A bid to transform a disused Cold War bunker into a village heritage museum has reached a major milestone.
A detailed planning application for a new Gairloch Heritage Museum has been submitted to Highland Council.
The move comes just days after the Gairloch and District Heritage Company, which runs the museum, was given a £100,000 grant towards the project.
The company are planning to convert a former Cold War anti-aircraft operations room into a heritage centre for the community and visitors to the area.
The existing museum at Achtercairn is no longer fit for purpose and will be replaced by the new facility.
The currently derelict bunker was built in the 1950s and is one of only four such structures left in Scotland.
It was built as part of a radar network covering the UK coastline and was designed to withstand bomb blasts.
However, it was never made fully operational and was adapted for use by the council’s roads department and as a standby emergency operations centre, although it is now no longer used by the local authority.
In a report submitted with the application, the project’s designers LDN Architects say that the current building is “uncompromising” but “in many ways, however, it will make an ideal museum”.
It is hoped that, subject to gaining planning permission and having funding entirely in place, the msueum could open in the bunker in 2018.
A major boost to funding the project was delivered last week by the SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund which contributed £100,000 towards the cost of relocating the msueum.
Roy Macintyre, chairman of the c heritage company said: “This funding from SSE represents a substantial contribution to the total funds necessary to take our project forward.
“The new building will enable us to expand our collections and reach out to new audiences.
“The social, environmental and economic benefits to the community will be considerable.
“We are delighted that SSE has invested in our community and that the future of the museum looks more secure.”
