The future of a historic Inverness building will be decided next week when new plans go before councillors.
Proposals to redevelop the Midmills Campus into studio space for local artists as well as homes for older people will go before Highland Council’s south planning committee on Tuesday.
The campus in the Crown area of the Highland capital has been closed since early last year when Inverness College UHI moved out to its new home at Beechwood.
The campus has also previously housed Inverness Royal Academy.
Now retirement developer McCarthy & Stone are looking to build 53 private retirement apartments for over 60s, while Highland Council will supply 30 affordable homes for the over 55s.
Wasps Studios will take over the iconic main Midmills building as a creative centre incorporating studio and gallery space for artists and designers.
McCarthy & Stone will purchase the site if planning permission is granted and then will “gift” the listed building to Wasps.
The council will purchase their part of the site from McCarthy & Stone – while both will provide financial support to Wasps to assist with bringing the listed building back to a usable standard.
Councillor Richard Laird has led calls to keep the building in public use.
He will not be able to attend next week’s planning committee but last night urged his fellow councillors to give it their blessing.
He said: “This building means a lot to generations of Invernessians and is simply too iconic to be taken into private hands and converted into flats..
“A lot of work has gone into coming up with a viable future for the building and its grounds.
“I won’t be at the meeting on Tuesday, but I hope my absence doesn’t stop my colleagues from granting permission for the development.”
The proposal involves development on the current grass area to the rear of the main complex and the demolition of some of the existing buildings on the campus.
The council received eight objections, raising concerns about parking, access, and the position of the new flats.
Concern was also raised about the loss of green space and development within the Crown Conservation Area.
Highland Council planners have recommended that that the scheme is approved.
