The planned town, on lands owned by Moray Estates, exemplifies a progressive approach to community building and planning, which promotes sustainability, diversity and inclusion.

The minister was given a tour of the new community by representatives for Places for People Scotland, which is one of the main developers delivering a range of homes for private sale and affordable housing for sale and rent.

Housing minister Paul McLennan said: “I was pleased to visit the new Places for People Scotland development in Tornagrain, and see the impact of the Scottish Government’s £4 million investment toward the delivery of 66 affordable homes.

“This is a very impressive development and as it grows it should continue to deliver many of the ambitions set out in our Housing to 2040 strategy. Working in partnership with Highland Council and Places for People Scotland we are creating a community within which people can live, work and thrive.

“Everyone should have access to a safe, warm and affordable home and have a choice about where they live, no matter what tenure they live in. This is why we have made £3.5 billion available over this parliamentary term, towards the delivery of affordable and social homes.”

Initial development phases at Tornagrain comprised primarily of homes for private sale, the community infrastructure and amenities. With sufficient infrastructure now in place, the latest construction phase of 68 properties introduces affordable housing with 12 homes for social rent, 17 for mid-market rent, and 12 for shared equity. Construction will begin on a further 40 affordable homes later this year.

Unlike many contemporary developments, where it is visually evident which units are built for private purchase and which are offered as affordable housing, Tornagrain has been designed with the blind tenure principle in mind to combat the stigma that exists around social housing and to help create a thriving, diverse community.

Director of Places for People Scotland, Katie Smart, explained: “In Scotland we strive to be a fair and equal society, but unfortunately long-standing misconceptions about social housing persist. We believe that designing social and affordable homes to look different from other homes within a development only perpetuates this stigma and risks limiting the potential of the community and the people who live within it.”

In addition to promoting inclusion and diversity within its design, Tornagrain has also been designed to promote sustainability. The community will ultimately deliver 5,000 homes, open green space, local shops and services within walking distance, and accessible public transport links to Inverness, which is seven miles away, as well as Inverness airport and airport rail station, around a mile away.

Managing director of Places for People Developments Scotland, Roddy Macdonald, added: “The Tornagrain community has been carefully planned to enable the people who live here to make more sustainable choices. This has been done this by creating spaces for shops and local amenities, well thought out travel links, and open spaces to play and socialise. This contemporary community exemplifies the 20-minute neighbourhood principles, which promote sustainability and are reflective of what people are looking for.”