A decade of work has finally come to fruition as work started on a state-of-the-art community centre which will serve the rural populations of central and East Sutherland.
The £1.8million building will be erected on a derelict industrial site just off the main road between Bonar Bridge and Ardgay. This is land owned by the Kyle of Sutherland Hub, a voluntary group who run youth classes and have been pushing the plans since day one.
Facilities will include a 15-piece fitness suite, a health food cafe and an impressive soft play installation area for children, along with a charity shop and family support and therapy rooms.
It is aimed at encouraging healthy living for people of all ages, with a focus on young people.
Yesterday project manager Catriona Hill, of CH Architecture, said: “This is going to have a massive positive impact on the community, not just to the young people it’s geared up for but also to other people interested in leading a healthy lifestyle.
“The voluntary group has put in a huge amount of legwork for this project over the past 10 years, and in the meantime they have been operating out of temporary Portakabins. But through a huge effort and fundraising applications, they have put together a portfolio of funding and will now be getting a fantastic youth hub for the area. It’s been a big team effort to get to this stage.
“A big thanks also has to go to Adams & Sutherland Architects who have been working hard behind the scenes and designed the fitness suite, which will have stunning panoramic views of the Kyle.”
About 75% of the funding for the project has come from the Big Lottery, with money also coming from the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, Robertson Trust and local Achany, Rosehall and Beinn Thuarsinn windfarms.
McGregor Construction officially started work on site on Monday and are due to complete the work in April 2017.
The facility will be run on a biomass boiler and a mechanical heats recovery system as part of the ventilation strategy.
