A developer has unveiled a £250 million vision to build 800 new homes in Inverness, a quarter of which will be affordable.

Tulloch Homes wants to build the homes on land near the West Link road project at Ness-side.

Currently under construction, the £55m Highland Council road project aims to ease traffic congestion in Inverness, opening up land for new housing. The West Link will eventually connect to a network of roads linking the A96, A9 and A82 trunk routes.

According to the masterplan, the homes will be built over the next 10 years to help tackle the housing shortfall in the city.

Plans will be lodged with the council in April, and work could start on the first phase of 50 affordable homes by the middle of next year.

Tulloch Homes chief executive, George Fraser, said the planned first phase of the company’s 800-home development would involve 50 affordable properties.

He said: “This is, of course, a long-term project but, given a fair wind in the planning process, our intention is to begin construction during 2018.

“With the road infrastructure in place, the first phase of 50 affordable homes will commence on receipt of planning permission, helping the council achieve their aspirations in the affordable sector.”

Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson praised developers for “getting on with the project” and stressed that community consultation will be paramount.

She said: “It’s been difficult to get developers to open up sites around Inverness in recent years so I am very pleased to see this.

“It’s about getting the whole act together and making sure the local infrastructure and facilities are where they need to be and are going up at the same time. We have had trouble with some big developers with plans straying over the years, or ending up with bigger density, with the likes of Westercraigs. The houses have to be built with more review and community consultation as it all goes along.”