As per the agreement, the housebuilder will provide a £900,000 investment to be used to enhance and improve education, community facilities and active travel connections.

The Conon Braes South development is an extension to the existing development, Conon Bridge North. Comprising 160 private and affordable homes and complemented by carefully designed landscaping and open space, the new community will have strong access to the local primary school, shop, rail halt and a pedestrian link from pocket park to maintain walking routes through the site which was added following consultation with the community.

Tulloch can now progress their plans to deliver the new housing at a time when the Scottish Government has declared a housing emergency and when demand is predicted to increase further in the area thanks to the establishment of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF).

Attracting over £3 billion of fresh investment to the area the ICFGF is expected to create more than 10,000 new jobs in the Highlands and a further 6,000 across the UK.

Kieran Graham, managing director of Tulloch Homes, said: “We are pleased we can take the next step with our plans to support housing demand with the delivery of high quality and energy efficient homes across a range of tenures to suit a variety of people in the area.

“We expect to make a start on the development next summer and, as with all of our developments, will look to work with local trades and suppliers during construction.

“It is an especially exciting time for the Highlands with the upcoming investment from the Freeport and provision of additional housing options will help ensure the Freeport is a success.”