Inverness city centre is poised for a new housing development as work starts this week to demolish two old sheds on a council site.
The operation to raze the buildings – in Little Kenneth Street between Tomnahurich Street and Kenneth Street – is due to commence today.
A spokeswoman for the local authority confirmed the work will start “with a view to preparing the site for future re-development, though as yet there are no plans submitted.”
The council will seek to develop the site as affordable housing, according to a planning application, which was submitted last month to demolish the sheds.
Members have previously discussed the potential use of the site, which has conservation status, to build flats for former looked after children. However, it is unknown if these proposals remain on the table.
Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr said yesterday he was “delighted” to hear that the site would be cleared and stressed something must be done as “soon as possible” to get rid of “an eyesore,” adding: “I’ve been trying to get these buildings knocked down for about 10 years.
“I do not want to see the site lying vacant, and just used by people for parking – I would like to see it revamped into something suitable. Everything around there is more or less residential, so housing would make sense.”
Mr Kerr criticised the council in November last year for continuing to pay what he claimed was about £1,500 in business rates for one of the sheds – a former Trading Standards building – despite it laying empty for years.
Fellow ward councillor, Janet Campbell, added: “I am confident that an appropriate and acceptable development will progress on that particular site.”
An application to demolish the buildings and erect a new mosque at the site was rejected in 2013, following the applicant’s failure to provide a supporting design statement and bat survey.
The Inverness Masjid Association were looking to move from their cramped confines of rooms at the city’s Northern Meeting Park – but relocated to another site at Portland Place.