Plans have been submitted for an extension to a former hotel which would create a new single campus for North Highland College UHI in Dornoch.
The building would enable their curriculum and research activities of golf, history, hospitality and tourism to be taught in one location at Burghfield House.
Donald MacBeath, principal of North Highland College UHI, said the hope is to complete the development in time for the start of the academic session of 2019-20, subject to securing funding.
He said the new extension would “significantly increase” the classroom spaces and introduce new golf practice and game development facilities, such as swing and putting areas, as well as a new gym geared towards golf students.
Mr MacBeath added: “The largest growth area is our golf related curriculum.
“We hope to accommodate the growing numbers of full-time students on our two golf related degrees, Golf Management and Professional Golf, on the campus.
“This is likely to amount to more than 100 students once this curriculum is fully established. We currently have around half this number.”
Mr MacBeath also hopes there will be “opportunities” for students in services provided by the proposed Coul Links golf course, should plans get the go-ahead, along with existing opportunities at the Royal Dornoch and Struie golf courses.
The University of the Highlands and Islands bought the 29-bedroom Burghfield House, which was once the home to newspaper magnate Lord Rothermere, in 2010.
The former hotel is currently run as a training restaurant and accommodates hospitality and tourism students – and these operations will continue.
The existing car park will be increased from 21 to 31 spaces and the applicant states in its plans that, if the car park becomes full, students must not park on neighbouring street but park elsewhere in the town and walk to the campus, to prevent congestion.
Students will be housed in the recently built accommodation at the town’s former abattoir site.
The latest extension plans were received by Highland Council’s planning department on September 22.