Work on multimillion-pound Bught Park redevelopment to start next month
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Highland Council has announced that Clark Contracts has been awarded the contract for multimillion-pound improvements to Bught Park funded by the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Work is set to begin towards the end of next month on the project to refurbish the grandstand, create a new sports pavilion, a new shinty experience and improve the infrastructure for large-scale outdoor events which is expected to take 13 months.
Three projects along the River Ness in Inverness are being supported with almost £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund. The projects will boost the city’s sporting and cultural attractions, preserve key heritage assets, help attract more tourists and assist in achieving net zero carbon targets.
Michael Scanlan, director at Clarke Contracts, said: “We are due to start on site on November 27 and we’re looking to complete in early January 2025. We’re looking obviously at the full renovation here of the pavilion and we’re going to demolish the changing rooms at the back, bring the car park area to the front and the viewing gallery over the field, trying to keep it as open to the public as we can through that period of time. We want to work with the local neighbourhood.
“We’ll be doing letter drops with the local people and will be engaging with people as obviously this is a busy area with the ice rink and swimming pool and so on. We will have segregated parking so there is minimal disruption.
“Our contract value is £8.6 million. We are looking to win more work up here in Inverness and engage with the local supply chain as well and create new relationships up here. We will be looking to take jobs on through the contract though we will be taking our own staff up here and we will be using mostly local subcontractors and supply chain.”
Highland Council’s Inverness city leader Ian Brown, and co-chairman of the levelling up fund programme board, said: “The contract award for improvements at Bught Park is a welcome one as it will ensure this important sporting and cultural facility can continue to be enjoyed by local people and visitors for years to come.
“Also, in line with the Highland Council’s sustainability goals, the works will introduce a cleaner ground source heating system offsetting potential environmental impact.”
City MP Drew Hendry, and co-chairman of the levelling up fund programme board, said: “With Clark Contracts being appointed to lead the construction and transformation of this park into a cultural sporting hub, the project moves to the next stage of this exciting development that will enable us to continue working closely with, and to benefit, local communities.
“With this major investment in the region we are able to maximise every opportunity to give back to the local community and significantly improve the park’s offering for its users.”
