More than £500,000 has been allocated to go towards the regeneration of a Inverness street.
Highland Council’s planning, development and infratsructure committee have agreed to spend £550,000 on a project to improve Academy Street.
Specific elements identified for grant support include bringing vacant buildings back into use, the reinstatement of original shop fronts, improvements to historic public spaces and education and training.
The allocation adds to a £1.67million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Townscape Heritage programme.
An initial £109,000 has been handed over to develop a full application, which has been to be completed before the grant is fully handed over.
The full application is being developed by a team set up to develop the project, with a further public consultation to be held on Tuesday, March 10.
Financial support from the Inverness City Heritage Trust is expected to be announced when the funding package is completed by the end of March.
Committee chairman Councillor Thomas Prag said: “The proposed Inverness Townscape Heritage project supports the Council’s programme of support for the Highland economy, more specifically helping make the Highlands and attractive environment for business and supports the development of Inverness city centre.
“The team are busy working up detailed proposals for the delivery of the five year programme of funding to kick start the regeneration of Academy Street as The Heritage Lottery Fund deadline for the stagetwo application is the end of May 2015.
“The decision by committee today provides a clear message of support and confidence that the project can really bring a boom to this forgotten gateway to our city.”