Full details of plans to transform a historic city building into an arts studio and dozens of new homes have been unveiled.
A detailed planning application has been submitted seeking permission to redevelop the Midmills Campus in the Crown area of Inverness.
The plans involve restoring and converting the historic listed buildings into studio and gallery space for local artists and designers, while also providing cultural activities for the local community.
Elsewhere on the campus 30 affordable homes for people over the age of 55 will be built, alongside 53 private retirement apartments for over 60s.
The planning application has been submitted by retirement developer McCarthy & Stone, who are working in partnership with Wasps Studios and Highland Council on the project.
A masterplan for the site was revealed in December last year and the developers have been working on securing funding to ensure the plans for the arts studio element goes ahead.
It was confirmed earlier this year that extra money would need to be generated because the building was “in a worse state of disrepair” than originally anticipated.
The number of retirement apartments within the proposal has been increased from an initial 45 to 53 to contribute to the funding.
Steve Wiseman, managing director of McCarthy & Stone in Scotland, said: “We’re pleased to submit an application for this masterplan development which will help to deliver creative facilities for the local community and much needed housing for older people.
“The partners have been committed to bringing forward these preferred plans and have worked hard to ensure that there is appropriate funding in place to turn them into reality.
“I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and has helped to shape the final application.”
The building has lain empty since early last year when Inverness College UHI moved out to its current home on the outskirts of the city.
The building has previously been a home of Inverness Royal Academy.
Wasps Studios is a social enterprise which provides work spaces for artists across Scotland. They currently have facilties in Nairn and at Braes in Skye, with a work space in Orkney due to open soon.
Senior executive director Audrey Carlin said: “We’re very excited about the planning application for Midmills and the prospect of having a base in Inverness.
“We’ve certainly identified a need and a demand for providing this kind of space in Inverness.
“Midmills offers an excellent opportunity in a pretty central location.”
She said the building was “not without its challenges” due to its age and condition but said it was well suited for development, having previously been the home of college art courses.
The developers said that public consultation events found that 85% of respondents supported the plans when they included the development of a creative base.
Ensuring that the listed buildings are retained for some form of community or public use was also an important factor.
Pat Hayden, chairwoman of Crown and City Centre Community Council said: “We have been very supportive of this development but we”l need to consider the planning application as a community council.”
The planning application is likely to be considered by Highland Council later in the year.
If granted permission the first phase of the work will involve Wasps taking up residence to carry out essential repairs and alterations.
The entire master plan is estimated to be completed by 2018.
