Work to transform a prominent eyesore site in the heart of Inverness will get under way within weeks.
Demolition of the two-storey car park near the city’s bus station is poised to begin at the end of May or early June, with a refurbishment of the adjacent Rose Street Hall to start soon after.
The sandstone hall – which has been used as an ironworks, foundry, gas works and latterly as a nightclub and hostel – could be turned into a shop or a bar and restaurant.
The speculative £500,000 project was hailed last night as a vote of confidence in the city centre by the private sector.
Up to 100 student flats were previously proposed for the site, but the project was recently shelved due to lack of demand.
Planning officers at Highland Council have now granted permission for the owners, Inverness Properties, to press ahead with internal alterations to the hall.
Charlie Barbour of Barbour Commercial, the agent to the owner, said: “We’re going to be re-roofing the building and carrying out certain alternations to the elevations.
“We’ve got consent for a shop but and we also consider that the building would be suitable for pub and restaurant use, but we don’t have consent for that.
“We will be demolishing the two-storey car park and will put a new, resurfaced car park on one level, with improved lighting and CCTV.
“Once we’ve got the building warrants we can quickly get on with the demolition. We would be keen to get the car park done before the tourist season. We’re hoping the end of May, beginning of June. It will take about three weeks.
“The nightclub building would probably be about a four month project.”
Mr Barbour added: “It’s a positive, speculative investment in the city centre by a private developer. It is demonstrating confidence in the city centre.
“It’s one of the main entrances to Inverness, being next to the bus station and the multi-storey car park, and we’re hoping that making the place more attractive should considerably improve this part of town.”
The existing decked car park currently accommodates 195 vehicles, and the new facility will have about 114 parking spaces.
The entrance to the new shop or restaurant will be located near where the front doors to the old nightclub were, opposite the revamped car park.