Plans for a 100-bedroom block will go before councillors in Inverness next week, and the controversial development has been welcomed by business leaders ahead of the vote.

The endorsement from the Inverness Business Improvement District (IBID) comes after the Inverness Civic Trust described the design of the flats as 'unsophisticated'. It does however support the assertions of local planners who are recommending that councillors vote in favour of the proposals.

The development in question involves building a five-storey block on the current site of Rose Street Hall. Both the building and its adjoining multi-storey car park would be demolished to make way for the new student flats.

Chairman of IBID, Craig Duncan, had this to say of the development, "BID has long been arguing that student accommodation is essential to reinvigorate this area adjacent to Academy Street. So we are delighted that Inverness Properties has brought forward this proposal and that it is being recommended for approval by the planning officer."

Image courtesy of Flickr, Creative Commons.