New details have emerged of a wave of planned construction projects in northern Scotland as a £2.1bn programme starts to take shape.
The Highland Council agreed the mammoth 20-year investment plan in May.
The plan includes spending more than £60m on roads and infrastructure improvements over the next three years, with a further £287m pencilled in for the rest of the period to 2044.
Under the proposals, road, bridge, street lighting, pier, harbour and flood defence projects will also receive the rest of the £2.1bn pot, the council has said.
Council leader Raymond Bremner said of the transport funding: “The planned investment will help to address the ongoing challenges we face in maintaining over 4,000 miles of Highland roads and sustaining rural communities.
“A long-term investment programme for roads and transportation will ensure a sustainable approach to investment, contractor procurement, and opportunities to attract match funding from developer contributions or other external funding sources.
“There will also be significant local contracting and business opportunities and wider community economic benefit associated with the delivery of the investment plan.”
Meanwhile, replacement accommodation for Dingwall Primary and St Clement’s schools has been identified as key components of a school project alongside community, sports and leisure facilities for the Dingwall Academy Associated School Group.
Five other priority locations will see masterplans and options appraisals developed for three primary schools in Alness; one in Brora; a secondary and a primary in Dornoch; the same in Golspie; and one secondary and two primaries in Invergordon.
Schemes at Beauly Primary, Charleston Academy, Dunvegan Primary, Fortrose Academy and Inverness High are are all set to progress to design and tender stage. All could potentially be delivered within five years.
Initial work to develop masterplans for longer-term priorities in the following locations was also proposed: Kiltearn Primary School; Culloden Academy; Rosebank Primary School; Millbank Primary School; Tarradale Primary School; Grantown Grammar School; Kingussie High School; Mallaig High School; Plockton High School and Primary School; Farr High School; and Farr Primary School.
