Controversial plans to turn a vacant store at one of Inverness’s busiest retail parks into three restaurants will go on display next week.
The Hercules Unit Trust wants to turn the large shop at Inverness Shopping Park into a mini-restaurant complex.
Around 180 jobs could be created if permission is granted to convert the former Comet shop.
Now the public will get their chance to scrutinise the proposals at an event at the retail park.
The plans will be displayed in a cabin close to the New Look store at the park on Friday and Saturday, open from 10am-4pm on both days.
However the plans have already divided opinions in the city.
The trust says that Frankie and Benny’s, Nando’s and TGI Friday’s will take over the units and all three have written letters of support about the application to the council.
A member of the public has also written in favour of the plan, stating that “the choice is between the unit remaining empty, supporting the impression of a stagnating area or reopening the unit, providing much needed choice to the hungry shopper or future student at the Inverness Campus”.
Inverness Business Improvement District and the owners of the Eastgate Shopping Centre have already objected to the proposals.
Now a prominent city centre businessman has added his name to those opposing the plans, Don Lawson, who owns Johnny Foxes and The Den.
He said: “To maintain Inverness as an attraction to tourists, it is essential to create a high level of footfall in the city centre. As has been demonstrated elsewhere in the UK, this proposed development will draw people away from using the city centre to the detriment of the existing hospitality businesses and result in a net loss of jobs.”
He added that the effect of out of town development is “already apparent on the city centre retail” and allowing development in the hospitality sector would have a similar effect.