The Scottish Courts & Tribunal Service has appointed Reiach & Hall Architects to deliver a £23 million justice centre on the site of a former depot in the Longman industrial estate in Inverness.
The three storey scheme is situated off Burnett Road and will stretch to 6,000 sq m consisting of ancillary accommodation, a café, offices and courts across from the former Inverness college to the north and the existing police station to the south.
The work will include the demolition of the existing buildings on the 3.5 acres of land, with a full planning application expected to be submitted in the next three months.
Opinion agents GVA wrote in their EIA screening: “The surrounding area is of a light business and industrial character and the design of the development will take full cognisance of this.”
Meanwhile, the SCTS said in a statement: “The SCTS has submitted a pre-planning major development enquiry (not a planning application) for a site at the former bus depot to obtain the views of Highland Council in principle to the suitability of this site as a potential site for the Inverness Justice Centre.”
SCTS added that this is part of the due diligence process which is being undertaken by them before making a final call on the location of the Justice Centre.
They added that they are committed to delivering a new justice centre in Inverness and while they choose the right site, the centre design, scoping work and engagement with partners will continue.
Construction is expected to start before the end of the year with a proposed completion date of summer 2018, at which point the current centre in Inverness Castle will be shut down, allowing in to be transformed into a tourist attraction in the process.
The new project will dovetail with delivery of HMP Highland in Milton of Leys.
