Field of dreams? Inverness Caledonian Thistle charity's bid to create a women's and community football base near Inverness Royal Academy to go before Highland Council planners
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A bid to kick forward plans to create a “game-changing” women’s and community football mecca in Inverness has gone before planners.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development Trust has been working towards creating a £1 to £2 million home base for their women’s team, girls’ academy and an array of other grassroots clubs and teams.
With a “show pitch” for matches central to the 10-acre training pitch development opposite Inverness Royal Academy, it would make ICTWFC the first Scottish women’s team in Scotland to secure a dedicated home ground.
The club's charitable arm, which secured the old IRA playing fields on a 25-year lease from Highland Council, has now lodged plans to build brand new changing rooms, offices, a classroom and meeting room.
The detailed application also features parking spaces and improved access to the north of the site.
The two state of the art changing rooms would have independent access and cater for squads of 16 players, with showers and toilets.
The offices, staff and meeting rooms would also be accessed separately with the development covering a floor space of 272 sq m.
A design statement for the project says the location of the new building to the north of the site was chosen to minimise the impact on the site by locating all development close to the existing access.
Old changing rooms and stores sit unused and boarded up on the site, which has been extended in recent years to form a garage to the south.
The exterior of the building would be timber-clad, with dark grey windows and doors, with solar panels upon the roof to maximise efficiency and net zero contributions.
To the north, close to the site, there are two houses which were formerly occupied by school janitors.
The Trust would also seek agreement with nearby organisations such as the Gaelic Primary School to allow overspill parking at suitable times.
Inverness Royal Academy would be approached for use of their bus stop area for team coaches.
Public consultation on the proposal ends on February 23 and a determination deadline has been set for March 24.
The design statement says: “The proposed design has sensitively positioned the facility on the northern edge of the playing fields to minimise the building footprint impact on the playing fields and take advantage of the existing access.
“The existing main access lends itself to being expanded to form a liner parking arrangement from the existing hammerhead minimising the disruption to the playing field.
“The building can then be positioned on a north south access to maximise solar gain and give a good view of over the playing fields.
“The site is located on the long established Culduthel playing field (and) characterised by large area of grass surrounded by dense tree line.
“The proposed building has been designed to have minimal impact on the site locating all development as close as possible to the existing access utilising the existing road layout to minimise hard surfacing.
“To provide enhancement for the net loss of green space it is proposed that infill of native tree planting is proposed in gaps highlighted in the surrounding tree line.
“This will promote green corridors and offer more habitat than the land being used for the development which is of little biodiversity and habitat value.
“Low level lighting will be proposed to minimise light pollution."
ICT Community Development Trust manager Craig Masterton said: "The focus of the project is very much centred on grassroots football and increasing participation in all aspects of the game, addressing the chronic lack of suitable facilities in Inverness.
"At the hub, our team will expect to welcome 1,200 participants per month to attend activities and host monthly football festivals for more than 500 primary school aged players. It will also host the Highland 'para' football team, now under the umbrella of ICT Trust, and adult programmes including walking football for over 55s and Football Fans in Training.
"From the base, the team will support the ICT Football Memories Project and the Kick Off Your Career initiative. Breakfast and after-school clubs will support working parents at targeted schools.
"The facility will also feature a seasonal grass athletics running track, long jump, shot putt and javelin area for use by Inverness Royal Academy pupils.
"There is also a commitment to support ICT FC Women and Girls section, who have 170 registered girls and women to play on a grass pitch."
