An Inverness city centre church is in discussions with Highland Council over a £250,000 project to adapt one of their halls for nursery facilities for the neighbouring primary school.
Crown primary has no space to expand, and could see 60 pre-schoolers heading to nursery in Crown Church’s lower hall if the negotiations are successful.
The council is proposing to pay the church £25,000 a year rental, long-term, reviewed every five years.
The council also wants to install a lift to the upper hall for groups displaced by the nursery, and to allow disabled access.
The lower hall would be turned into two nursery rooms, with toilets and cloakrooms.
The council would also enclose the rear fire escape and upgrade the toilets, kitchen and dining area.
Crown Church stressed in its latest newsletter that it is its congregation who will decide the way forward early in the New Year.
A Highland Council spokesman said: “As part of the expansion of early learning and childcare, the council has considered a range of options to increase physical capacity where required, and to allow additional hours to be offered, whether that be alterations to existing school buildings, installation of additional buildings or modular units, or use of additional spaces outwith the school grounds.
“All settings where increased capacity is being implemented, have been assessed in terms of cost, impact and timescales, to arrive at best solutions.”
Crown church has been contacted for comment.
