The Castle Street Energy Centre, a key city centre regeneration project, featured in a visit to the area by UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord. (Friday 1 September 2023).
The visit by Minister Offord to see the developments came following work having started on the Castle Street Energy Centre, in recent weeks, as part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
There are three projects along the River Ness in Inverness being supported with almost £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund. The projects will boost the city’s sport and cultural attractions, preserve key heritage assets, help attract more tourists and assist in achieving net zero carbon targets.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord, said: “It’s great to see progress on this hugely important project that will provide great Inverness landmarks with clean, green energy. The community-driven improvements we’re investing in will make a big difference in the area, enhancing the city’s rich cultural landscape.”
“Support from the UK Government to the tune of almost £20 million in Inverness demonstrates how committed we are to improving local areas for the benefit of local people and the wider community, with a total of £2.4 billion of direct investment into Scottish villages, towns and cities.”
The Highland Council’s Inverness City and Area Leader and Co-chair of the Levelling Up Programme Board, Councillor Ian Brown, said: “We were pleased to host the visit of Minister Offord, particularly now that the works have started on the Energy Centre in Castle Street, one of the three Levelling Up funded projects with dates starting in Inverness this year. The Energy Centre will allow us to provide a low carbon heating source, which extracts heat from the air, allowing us to heat and provide energy to both Inverness Castle and Inverness Town House.”
“We have great ambitions for the Highlands and its future development. Our aim is to be able to promote Inverness as a vibrant modern city, with a forward-thinking attitude. It deserves a modern energy system to go with this. Producing cleaner energy allows us to take strides towards achieving those targets.”
Malcolm MacLeod, Highland Council’s Interim Depute Chief Executive, said: “I was delighted to accompany Minister Offord around the site today in Inverness. We are in a position of being able to make real changes here in the Highlands. The UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund grant has handed us the opportunity to develop environmentally friendly initiatives in the area.”
“This project will allow us to breathe new renewable energy into Inverness, support local jobs and create a fantastic asset for the people of the Highlands, by contributing to decarbonization, for years to come. We look forward to continuing our joint working with the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities.”
All three projects support the UK Government Net Zero Carbon agenda by providing sustainable energy to Northern Meeting Park, sustainable energy to Bught Park and a renewable energy centre for Inverness Castle. All new systems will provide energy support to neighbouring properties helping to drive environmental change.
The Levelling Up Fund projects are delivered in partnership by The Highland Council and High Life Highland.
