Inverness City Region Deal Annual Report highlights investment

13th November 2025

Members of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee today (Thursday 13 November 2025) noted the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal Annual Report for 2024/25.

The Inverness & Highland City-Region Deal, a ten-year partnership between The Highland Council, UK Government, Scottish Government, and key partners, continues to deliver transformative investment across the region.

The report covers the period April 2024 to March 2025 and highlights the activity and delivery during this period. The deal, signed on 30 January 2017, committed up to £188.1m of funding from the Scottish and UK Government over the 10-year term of the deal.

Throughout 2024/25, progress was made across a wide range of Deal-supported initiatives, including housing, infrastructure, innovation, and skills. Projects which are central to fostering inclusive, sustainable growth and ensuring Highland communities thrive in a changing economy.

Key Achievements

Corran Ferry Replacement Vessel and Infrastructure: Formal inclusion of the Corran Ferry and shoreside improvements into the Deal programme.

Infrastructure & Growth: Ongoing progress in housing, transport, innovation, and skills projects, supporting inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "We are now in the ninth year of the Deal, and this year marked a significant milestone with the formal inclusion of the Corran Ferry and associated shoreside improvements within the programme.

This is a major step forward for regional transport and connectivity. Its addition reflects our growing commitment to rural infrastructure and the vital role that reliable, low-carbon transport plays in sustaining communities and supporting local economic growth."

The report highlights that stakeholders continue to face inflationary pressures, particularly within the construction sector. Rising costs have required careful reassessment of delivery strategies, phasing, and funding approaches. Despite these challenges, all partners have remained committed and resourceful, ensuring ambitions remain intact and momentum continues.

Councillor Gowans added: "As we look toward the final years of the programme, our focus is on maximising the impact of every pound invested - economically, socially, and environmentally. As a committee we extend our sincere thanks to our delivery partners, communities, government colleagues, and stakeholders for their ongoing collaboration and shared determination to secure a prosperous future for the Highlands."

The Highland Council is the lead organisation for the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal which is being implemented through a partnership between the Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI), and Albyn Housing Society Ltd.

The Deal aims to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth by:

creating new well-paid jobs in the private sector;
encouraging young people to remain within the region and attracting young people to move to the region;

boosting the region's growing sectors such as tourism and life sciences;

building affordable homes;

promoting innovation, internationalisation and new partnerships between the Region's many small businesses; and

improving connectivity through investments in transport.
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​Read the full report HERE