Councillors agreed in March 2015 to progress plans for a Regional Sports Facility for the Highlands in Inverness, which could include a significant contribution by SportScotland to the project. Funding up to £150,000 was then agreed in September to develop detailed designs and costings for the proposal.

The facility would incorporate indoor cycling, tennis, athletics, judo and gymnastics and would also be capable of hosting major exhibitions, conferences and concerts with a capacity of around 3000 people using the infield area.

The project board includes representation from SportScotland and High Life Highland.

Cllr Margaret Davidson, leader of The Highland Council, said: “We have ambitious plans for the future of the Highlands and we are right to be ambitious. We want to have excellent sports facilities that will be available for all of Highland’s young people to perform their best.

“Just look at the wonderful success of Team GB in the Rio Olympics. Congratulations to all those involved, particularly our own Stephen Milne scooping a silver medal for swimming and Inverness rower Alan Sinclair’s success in coming 4th and narrowly missing a medal. In order for our future generations to succeed they need the best possible facilities and opportunities.

“We have already invested in new facilities for rugby and golf as part of our West Link project. Our plans for a state of the art regional sports centre, with velodrome, indoor tennis, gymnastics, athletics and judo would be a fantastic asset to the Highlands. It would be an investment in our young people’s future and would also create jobs and stimulate inward investment and sports tourism.

“Olympic medal winners never got anywhere without being ambitious! So let us be ambitious.”

The business case will be considered as part of the council’ capital programme review at its meeting in October.