Ten-year wait may be over as city shop plan approved

A PLANNED Asda store in Inverness moved closer yesterday after the Scottish Government backed the latest proposals.

The supermarket chain has been trying for a decade to get a presence in the city but has been delayed by planning and legal wrangling.

Last June ministers indicated they were minded to grant planning permission for the 27 million store at Slackbuie on the outskirts of Inverness and have now given approval subject to a list of conditions.

It follows Asda reaching an agreement with Highland Council and Transport Scotland on funding arrangements for road infrastructure works to ease traffic in and around the site.

The new store, which Asda say will create 400 jobs, was held up by a legal challenge by rival developers Inverness Estates which is funding another huge proposed project for the city. The consortium was unhappy that Asda was not asked to pay up-front for road improvements.

The supermarket later agreed to pay 1.5m towards improvement works.