Sports pitch at Inverness Campus moves a step closer
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Plans for an all-weather sports pitch at Inverness Campus have moved a step closer.
Highland Council has approved planning documents for the construction of a full size 3G sports pitch, car parking, fencing and floodlighting.
UHI Inverness was awarded £300,000 by sportscotland in January 2021 to complete a £1 million funding package for the installation of the synthetic sports pitch.
The pitch is phase one of the aspirations for sports facilities at the campus and aims to address a lack of quality facilities for pitch sports in Inverness, particularly in the east of the city.
The plans aim to fulfil a long-term ambition to provide sports facilities on th campus for students, local sports clubs and the community.
The full-size rugby and football pitch would be floodlit and suitable for year-round use, including training, matches and seven-a-side games.
Scottish Rugby and Inverness Craig Dunain RFC have been identified as potential users of the pitch. Inverness Caley Thistle Football Club and the Scottish Football Association have also been involved in the process.
Inverness Campus is being developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which has made land near Scottish Vet Referrals available for the sports pitch.
Funding for the pitch has also been secured from UHI Inverness’s Foundation, Highland Council developer contribution funding and the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
The pitch represents phase one of the project, with ambitious plans for a second phase being developed. This would potentially see a centre for sporting excellence created, providing the facilities, expertise and support required for athletes of all abilities to train and develop in the region, as well as facilities for students and the community.
