TULLOCH Construction and the Co-op have announced plans to build a #12m retail and leisure park at Dellfield of Inshes on the outskirts of Inverness.

This will feature a new Co-op superstore and the first multi-screen cinema to be built in the North of Scotland.

There will also be a large bingo and leisure club, a family pub, a fast food outlet and parking for 1300 cars.

A planning application for the development has been submitted to Highland Council and Tulloch hopes to start construction work in the Spring.

Co-op aims to open its superstore by Christmas 1997. It will replace its supermarket at Inshes a third of a mile away, which will be converted into a non-food store.

The Dellfield of Inshes project is being undertaken jointly by Scottish Co-op and Upland Tulloch. The latter is a joint venture between Inverness-based Tulloch Construction and Aviemore businessman David Cameron.

Upland Tulloch recently completed work on the new North of Scotland Water Authority headquarters in Inverness.

The proposed retail park on the eastern fringe of Inverness is designed to cater for a planned expansion of housing in the area over the next five to 10 years.

The promoters of the project say it will create 200 jobs.

Adrian Lorimer, the general manager of retail development at Scottish Co-op, said: ``The proposed development is well located to serve the future residential expansion areas at Inshes. Existing jobs would be given long-term protection and new job prospects enhanced.''

Tom McGougan, property director of the Tulloch Construction Group, said there were already several companies interested in occupying properties on the development site.

He said the Dellafield of Inshes retail park would ``stimulate and expand commercial and leisure growth in the Highland capital''.