Kingdom Hall plan for Inverness neighbourhood lodged with Highland Council
A new place of worship could be built in Inverness after plans were lodged with Highland Council.
Watchtower Britain has applied for build a new Kingdom Hall on unused land in Culduthel Avenue next to the southern distributor road.
If approved, the new Kingdom Hall will be built on open scrub and grassland immediately to the west of a building housing Highland Vet Referrals and Shakes 'n' Cakes.
The land is currently open space with bushes and some trees.
If approved, access for the Kingdom Hall would be from Culduthel Avenue. Several trees, including at least one which is dead, will be felled to make way for the new access road, parking and the building itself.
However, most of the trees, which are located along the north-western edge of the site, would be maintained. And new planting is also proposed to offset their loss.
A new mixed hardwood hedge would also run along the site's boundary facing onto the distributor road.
In a supporting statement lodged with the application, Watchtower Britain said the new hall would be able to accommodate around 150 people, and added: "The new Kingdom Hall building is open to all members of the public.
"The building may also be used less frequently for weddings, funerals and meeting of trustees. The new building will be formed from a block cavity wall construction and finished principally with brick and render with areas of fibre cement cladding and a pitched concrete tile roof."
Addressing the impact on the existing landscape, they added: "[The] aim is to preserve the woodland nature of the site through replacing any dead or diseased trees with new and any trees removed as part of development proposals will be replaced. Mixed native species of trees and hedges are proposed for new planting, with the trees largely kept within the boundary designated ancient woodland.
"A variety of native wildflower/grass seed mixes are proposed to encourage and support wildlife particularly pollinating insects. Aim to maximise planting to increase the opportunity for carbon dioxide removal from the environment and also maintain soil cover to keep carbon in the soil.
"A number of the existing trees are to be retained along with any shrubs and bushes which are clear of the development area. Some existing bushes will be incorporated into the proposed mixed hedging.
"Where trees need to be felled it is proposed to keep a selection of logs to create deadwood habitats around the sites wooded area to increase and support biodiversity. These measures will also increase the visual interest of the area and enhance the local environment, providing healthy and pleasant spaces, while linking well with the existing woodland habitat to the North of the site and strengthening the nature network."