Highlands and Islands Enterprise has awarded Morgan Sindall the first phase civils work for its ambitious Inverness Campus project in 100 acres of land at Beechwood.

The £12.3m contract includes building roads, drainage, landscaping, public spaces and other infrastructure

As well as providing an outstanding environment for students at Inverness College UHI, the developers expect to attract a wide range of other users, including the Scottish Agricultural College.

The site has been planned as an ideal location for supporting research businesses, a new hotel, and sports and community facilities for local people and visitors to enjoy.

An economic impact study has concluded that, when all three planned phases of the project are completed, it could support up to 6,000 jobs and generate £38m a year for the Highlands and Islands economy.

Ruaraidh MacNeil, Inverness Campus Project Director with HIE said: “Highlands and Islands Enterprise has been planning this project for several years now and it will be wonderful to see construction getting under way.”

Neil Duncan, area director of Morgan Sindall, said: “With an office based in Inverness, we will look to employ local subcontractors wherever possible, which will continue to support the economy of the area.

“This project alone could create up to 250 employment opportunities.”