Press Statement

Thursday 13TH JANUARY

Inverness Gaelic Hub Planning Application

The long-sought plan to build a multi-purpose Gaelic building, or hub, on land adjacent to Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis (the Inverness Gaelic School) has moved a step closer. A detailed planning application has been lodged with the Highland Council.

See plans and perspective views attached.

This ambitious project will create a “Gaelic environment” within a tailor-made building that will provide space for a Gaelic wrap-around nursery, office space into which the main Gaelic organisations will be relocated and a social space where Gaelic speakers can meet and where Gaelic events and exhibitions can be held.

Councillor Roy Pedersen who chairs the steering group explained:

“The imperatives driving this project are as follows:

• The Inverness Gaelic School has been a huge success and will be full in two years. It has already had to be extended to accommodate its rapid growth
• Taking the nursery out of the school and re-locating it in the hub will allow the school to absorb more primary classes
• The new Gaelic medium nursery will for the first cater for all pre-school ages from babies upwards
• Bringing the Gaelic bodies together under one roof will bring financial savings through sharing facilities in a more energy efficient space
• The social space will create an environment in which Gaelic speakers and learners will be able to meet and undertake activities through the medium of Gaelic without feeling under pressure to switch to English

Combining all these drivers will create a vigorous new approach to promote the linguistic, cultural, and economic development of the city.”

Colla MacDonald, Chair of Fòram Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis welcomed the project saying:

“The project has been taken forward by a steering group under the auspices of Fòram Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis (The Inverness Gaelic Forum) an open membership, community based organisation. The project has the support of the main Gaelic bodies in the City and specifically: Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comunn na Gàidhlig, An Comunn Gàidhealach, Clì Gàidhlig, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Curam Chloinne, Comunn na Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis”

 Project facilitation and design was provided by Synergie in partnership with Colin Armstrong Architects with initial funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and with active support from Highland Council.

For more information contact: Cllr Roy Pedersen on 01463 241107, Mob 07753 882199