The Inverness City-Region continues to be one of the fastest growing areas in Scotland. During the last 30 years the population has grown but almost 32, 000 while some 20,000 houses have been built over the same period. Government figures show that the Highland population increased by 2,260 in the year 2003-04.

 

The National Planning Framework for Scotland (2004) promotes the city-region as one of the key development areas in Scotland over the next 20 years, specifically referring to the A96 corridor. Both the Highland Structure Plan and the Inverness Local Plan identify the corridor as the preferred location for long-term development. In 2003, Scottish Ministers endorsed Inverness City Partnership’s City Vision for housing a further 30,000 people in the corridor over the next 30 years or so.

 

Consultants were commissioned in 2004 to provide proof of the concept for new A96 corridor settlements, to carry out a capacity assessment and produce a Master Plan. Eight development options were identified and tested. A new settlement at the centre of the corridor was the most broadly supported by stakeholders and sample local views sought from community councils and focus groups. An overall strategy for the corridor is being tested by The Highland Council through a public consultation exercise over 2005-06. Further studies are planned to look at infrastructure needs, land use, developer contributions, liaison with strategic roads investigations and to develop an implementation plan.