Background

The endeavours to create a major gallery in the Highlands began over a decade ago.  An initial study in 1994 gave strong support to the concept and confirmed that an Inverness location would be acceptable. This formed the basis of an unsuccessful application to the Millennium Fund.

A second study was based on developing a site in Torvean Quarry on the edge of Inverness. This was shelved because of high infrastructure costs and continuing uncertainty about the route and timescale for the Southern Distributor Road.

In 2004 , the Local Enterprise Company convened a new working group to reconsider the gallery concept.  A Partnership Scoping Report was produced capturing the views and aspirations of 22 actual and potential partners. This was followed by a Visioning Workshop when it was decided to broaden the concept to create a combined gallery and museum facility.

In 2005-06 a feasibility study was carried out, on the assumption that the present 1960’s structure including the Inverness Museum and Gallery (IMAG) would be demolished, and the whole of the site redeveloped.  The study indicated how a mixed development for Bridge Street and Castle Street might be accommodated on the site around the existing Town House. This informed discussions between the developers and The Highland Council about a possible joint venture, however, it became apparent  that this was unlikely to be achievable in the desired timescale . 

In the meantime, Inverness Museum and Gallery has been beautifully refurbished to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act in time to play a key role in Highland 2007, the Year Scotland Celebrates Highland Culture.  Forward thinking has ensured that the displays are portable to enable them to be re-housed in a new building in the future.

Faced once again with the stalemate of being unable to make progress without a defined site, in July 2007, The Highland Council commissioned a preliminary evaluation of fourteen possible sites within the city boundaries of Inverness for housing the proposed new gallery and museum.

The fourteen sites were visited and evaluated to a rigorous set of criteria, including the interim building brief and concept statement, British Standards, planning compliance issues, access and infrastructure issues, development potential, potential hazards (such as flooding) and amenity and context. The criteria for site selection included: a site that can provide good access; good visibility; and quality spaces.

The overall scale of the proposed new gallery and museum is 4,095 square metres: Gallery area – 800m2; Museum area – 1000m2; with public and servicing areas making up the rest. This is nearly three times more space than the existing Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

A brief, one page synopsis on the review of the 14 sites is available. The full Site Appraisal Report can also be downloaded.

The site assessments were presented to meetings of the Highland Gallery and Museum Steering Group and Project Team on 21 August 2007.   No firm preferences or clear front runner were identified.  The majority were ruled out, either because the building brief could not be met or because the site was unlikely to be available in the foreseeable future.    Three sites remained as being worthy of further investigation: the undeveloped west side of Castle Street; the Midmills complex at the Crown; and the Northern Meeting Park.  These were the subject of more detailed site analysis on October/November 2007 to confirm that there were no insurmountable obstacles to their being proposed for further consideration by Highland Councillors.