Inverness Campus plans for all-weather sports facility with floodlit pitch to serve Raigmore, Cradlehall, Inshes, Culloden, Balloch, Westhill and Smithton reveal potential for indoor tennis academy
The long-held ambition to establish a community all-weather sports pitch located in the east of Inverness has taken a step forward after delays.
The planning application to create the new floodlit all-weather pitch facility with a 100x60 metre playing area at Inverness Campus is due to be submitted “imminently.”
A £1.3 million all-weather sports pitch project in Inverness was put on hold amid spiralling costs in February of last year after a blueprint was approved by Highland Council’s own planners.
Now the new plans show three smaller-sized fields within one larger field, temporary modular toilets and changing facilities – and next to it a tennis academy.
The “Future Phase Tennis Academy" section indicates that the sports pitch is the first phase of a “masterplan” for this part of the Inverness Campus.
The aim in the future is to include other sports facilities to serve the east Inverness area and that includes “potential creation of a regional indoor tennis centre in collaboration with governing bodies.”
The project is funded by the council and developer contributions.
The chairman of council’s economy and infrastructure committee Ken Gowans has long wanted to establish sports facilities in this part of the city.
“This is an exciting opportunity to provide desperately needed sporting facilities in this area of the city,” he said.
“The new all-weather sports pitch will ensure provision of an all-year-round facility close to key transport links.
“The site, within Inverness Campus, is great for connectivity, with convenient transport links from the A9 North and South, Inverness Airport and it is on the route of regular local bus services.
“It will serve both established and new communities including Raigmore, Cradlehall, Inshes, Culloden, Balloch, Westhill and Smithton as well as supporting the growth of developments in the east of the city.
“It will also serve those employed in east Inverness at Lifescan, Inverness Campus and Raigmore Hospital who can benefit. In addition, the site is located between Inverness Retail Park and Inshes Retail Park. The proposed location is ideal.”
He added: “The community pitch will be available to the public year-round and due to its proximity to the UHI, I can see it being key to the development of an education training facility, as well as being available to local schools and clubs.
“Getting this to the planning application stage is the result of a lot of hard work and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their contribution. This is terrific news for not just the East Inverness area, but for the whole Highlands as it will provide excellent facilities available to all.”
In an associated development, work will start next month on improvements to one of the pitches at Culloden Park to bring it up to the standard required for competitive rugby for use by Inverness Craig Dunain RFC from season 2026/27 onwards.
The works comprise the installation of a new drainage system and improvements to the playing surface. This will provide a permanent base for the club’s men’s and women’s sides for competitive matches, training and coaching.