An Inverness charity bidding to create the Highland’s first care centre for children with learning disabilities has been given a major boost.
The Elsie Normington Foundation has appointed two service providers who will take over the running of the £4million facility once it is built.
An architect has also been appointed to design the centre, which will be built on the site of the former Culloden Court Care Home in Smithton, which was destroyed by fire in 2010.
The Murray Road plot has been vacant since and has been used most recently by contractors working on the village’s flood prevention scheme.
Elsie Normington set up her charity to help children with severe learning difficulties, after bringing up her son Andrew who has a rare and severe form of epilepsy.
The foundation was given first refusal on the Murray Road site by Highland Council, who bought the land following the fire.
The authority also plans to build some affordable housing on the site which will suitable for adults with support needs.
The charity’s plans for the site include a specialist play centre with a respite wing, community coffee shop and supported housing for children and young adults with learning disabilities.
The operation of the centre will be taken on by Key Community Supports who provide short breaks for adults and young people, while Direct Childcare will provide care for children in the specialist play centre.
Highland architect Colin Armstrong is leading the design teams for both projects, with work to begin by 2017.
Mrs Normington said that the centre was “crucially important” for families across the Highlands.
She said: “There is a huge demand for something like this.
“Most towns will have something similar but there isn’t anything at all in the Highlands.”
She added: “Having the Key Community Supports and Direct Childcare on board is a huge step forward for us.
“Basically we will set things up and get everything built and then hand over to the specialists to let them run it from there.”