Commercial property group, Colliers International has submitted proposals to Highland Council to replace HMP Inverness Prison with a new £66m facility with 200 cells. The new HMP Highland will take the place of the 112-year-old prison, located in the city centre, with a new 21st century fit-for-purpose prison. Working on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service, Colliers International’s planning team lodged the PPP (planning permission in principle) for the new prison on land to the south of Inverness Retail and Business Park. Meabhann Crowe, senior planner at Colliers International, said: 'Identifying a suitable site for a new prison facility is a rare task. Finding a suitable location was not as straightforward as with many other buildings. 'However, the Highlands, Islands and Moray areas need a modern, fit-for-purpose prison facility and we have found an excellent location for the impressive designs, which the Scottish Prison Service has commissioned. 'The new HMP Highland is proposed on a site which we believe to be wholly suitable to this development. 'It benefits from good accessibility and existing landscaping on the site will assist in creating a setting for the building. 'The response to the public consultation we carried out was overwhelmingly positive with a complete 100 per cent of respondents in support of the Prison Service’s aim to create a modern, fit for purpose facility.' HMP Highland will serve Highlands, Islands and Moray areas. The application is expected to be determined later this year.