City architect says old college site could provide film studio base

A DERELICT site on a key route into Inverness city centre should be redeveloped as a film studio, according to a city architect.

Andrew Bruce believes there could be great potential in developing such a facility at the former Inverness College in Longman Road.

The site has remained empty since the college, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), relocated to its new campus at Beechwood.

Mr Bruce wants to prompt debate about the site’s future after the building is demolished and believes it would be an ideal location for a film studio and production facility – especially as the Highlands has become increasingly popular with film and TV crews.

It would sit alongside the new justice centre currently under construction.

"The justice centre will be a fantastic building," he said. "It is going to be beautiful and there should be something on this site next to it."

Mr Bruce said the idea of a film studio came up during an informal discussion with colleagues at city practice HRI Munro Architecture.

"The Ward Park Studios in Cumbernauld already work at capacity and, although the proposed major studio complex at Straiton in Edinburgh will, if eventually constructed, become the major Scottish facility, there must surely be scope for a smaller more flexible and reactive studio facility in Inverness, given the growing interest in the Highlands as an ideal location and the increasing involvement of the big players such as Netflix and Amazon in growing the whole industry," Mr Bruce said.

"The Longman site has the area, location and local facilities to offer a tremendous basis for a multi-partner development, linking government, UHI and industry partners to springboard the industry and its future in the Highlands."

The idea has found favour with Loch Ness businessman and tourism ambassador Willie Cameron who has helped visiting film crews for the past 24 years, including three in recent weeks.

"For the amount of filming here, to have a small studio just off the A9, close to the rail station, close to the airport, would be a tremendous asset," he said.

"I would back it 110 per cent. The way technology has moved forward, and with equipment more computerised and digitised, crews don’t need a huge amount of space."

Inverness Central ward councillor Bet McAllister agreed it was an interesting idea, but warned it would need funding.

"Mr Bruce is absolutely right about how popular the Highlands is becoming – there is a lot of filming going on all over the place," she said.

Cllr McAllister said the site could be shared with other users and suggested Highland Council should relocate its headquarters and other offices there, including those currently at Inverness Town House.

"It would bring everything under one roof," she said. "The town house could still be used for civic events and the provost could still have her room for meeting and greeting people."

Inverness College UHI is responsible for the former campus building as custodians of the site, but ownership remains with the Scottish Government.

A college spokeswoman said: "We have been out to tender to find a contractor to demolish the former Inverness College UHI building in the Longman and hope to make an announcement soon on the successful bidder and a start date for demolition. The land will then be marketed for sale as a vacant site.

"While we always welcome ideas and debate on the future use of any important city site, this will ultimately be a commercial decision for the Scottish Government."