Highland Council to consider transfer of playing fields at Inverness Royal Academy to Caledonian Thistle Community Development
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Women’s football in the north could be on the verge of a massive boost if Highland councillors approve the asset transfer.
The transfer as proposed to members at this week’s full council meeting is to lease the playing fields at Inverness Royal Academy to Caley Thistle’s development body for a nominal sum, usually £1 per annum for up to 25 years.
The local authority would lose the estimated rent of the site of £25,000 a year if it was offered on the open market but it is recognised there is “no plausible demand” for it and there is “little prospect for any change of use through planning.”
Consequently, officers have asked members to agree to the plan subject to conditions of agreement which will see Caley Thistle take responsibility for costs related to property, legal, repairs, insurance and upkeep.
The use of the land and buildings would be restricted to the purposes outlined in the asset transfer request and will be outlined in a permitted use clause, while evidence of planning approval will be required for the proposed development.
Details of proposals to manage parking would also need to be shown as would evidence of funding being in place from SportScotland or an equivalent for the proposed redevelopment to proceed.
Caledonian Thistle Community Development’s plans were first tabled in March where proposals included a “game-changing” investment of between £1 and £2 million to create a mecca for women’s and community football in the Highlands.
The outfit wants to turn the eight acres of disused playing fields beside Inverness Royal Academy into a state-of-the-art base for the women’s team and the charitable ICTFC Community Trust.
In what is believed to be a unique development for Scottish women’s football, the complex would serve as a dedicated home ground for the SWF Championship North club.
The complex would feature at least one, possibly two, enclosed grass “show” pitches of the same dimensions as Glasgow’s Hampden Park’s surface.
