A report being presented to the full Council next week sets out  a firm five-year investment programme of £470m and an indicative second five-year programme of a similar scale.

The plans represent a 16% increase over recent years and could create more than 500 new construction jobs.

Council Leader Councillor Drew Hendry said: “A key priority of this Council is to support the creation of jobs to ensure the economic growth of the Highlands.

“We can deliver this commitment by moving to a 10-year capital programme and allocating levels of annual investment on capital projects far beyond anything achieved before.

“We estimate that our spending in the firm first five-year programme will create up to 500 new jobs in the construction industry and many of these will be young workers through our recently announced shared apprenticeship scheme.

“Over the second five year programme we would aim to maintain the momentum of spending. This is really very exciting news for the Highlands. It has the potential to transform our economy.”

He said the Council would also have schemes “shovel ready” so that if extra funds become available it will be in a position to take full advantage

Convener Councillor Jimmy Gray said: “Moving to a 10-year programme will be welcome news for the building industry and I am sure they will see the importance of gearing up to meet the new and exciting challenges that lie ahead.

“There are major projects in the programme and we have also set aside extra funds for improvements to play areas, bus shelters and burial grounds.”

Over the next five years, Education Culture and Sport is in line to benefit from  £201m; Transport Environmental and Community Services, £182m and Health and Social Care, £11m.

Education, culture and sport projects, include:-

• Major new schools (Sustainable Schools Education Review)
• Avoiding out of area placements for looked after children
• Portree Gaelic Medium Primary School
• Portree High School hostel
• Inverness Royal Academy
• Lochaber High School Phase 4
• Wick schools (new High School and two new primary schools)
• Thurso Library
• Dornoch Sports Facility (based at the school campus and used by the community out of hours)

Transport projects include: –

• Minor flood works
• A 890 Stromeferry bypass (preparatory works, recognising the Council cannot, on its own, fund this major project)
• Inverness West Link – West section
• West Link sports and recreational enhancements
• Minor roads, major road improvements, roads structural capital works
• River Ness flood prevention and streetscape works
• Granish Landfill site restoration (Aviemore)
• Play areas
• Cycling, walking and safer streets
• Lifeline bridges
• Coast protection
• Burial grounds
• Park and ride and bus priority measures
• Bus shelters