Plans to make “urgent” repairs and external improvements to the former East Church in Academy Street have been given to the go-ahead by Highland Council.
Gaelic language charity Culturlann Inbhir Nis acquired the 225-year-old building in 2023 after it was put on the market by the Church of Scotland as part of a national efforts to cut costs.
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Now the community-owned charity is spearheading an effort to turn the building into a Gaelic language and cultural centre “for the benefit of future generations” in the historic city centre building.
Since securing the property, the charity says it has been successful in securing funding from a “number of sources” to enable a series of “urgent” building repair and enhancement works.
An application made to Highland Council on July 11, 2024, Culturlann Inbhir Nis requested permission to make roof alterations for drainage and insulation.
It also included the proposed addition of roof lights and alterations to the ground floor annex to provide new sanitary facilities.
A spokesperson for Cultarlann Inbhir Nis said: “The roof and stonemasonry of the external building fabric is in poor condition and in need of repairs to flashings and stonework in order to protect the building in the long term.
“In particular there are valley gutters around the rear of the property that have insufficient capacity for the rainwater run-off from the roofs.
“The works will comprise the urgent repairs to the external roofs and wall fabric to make the building wind and watertight.
“There will also be new roof insulation installed as part of the project which will improve the overall building energy efficiency and help with the transition to net zero.
“Certain roof changes are also being undertaken to improve safe access for ongoing operational maintenance and cleaning of the roofs, and to undertake any future repairs that may be required.”