Business case for Regional Sports Hub submitted

24th August 2016

A business case for the council's proposal for a regional sports hub has been submitted to the council's finance service.

Councillors agreed in March 2015 to progress an ambitious Regional Sports Facility for the Highlands, which could include a significant contribution by Sportscotland to the project.

Highland Council agreed funding in September 2015 of up to £150,000 to develop detailed designs and costings for a Regional Sports Facility. The project planning was taken forward in line with the Council's Programme commitment to work with partners to progress the delivery of a regional sports facility for the Highlands in Inverness incorporating indoor cycling, tennis, athletics, judo and gymnastics as part of our aim of promoting the Highlands as a great place to live, work and visit.

The venue would also be capable of hosting major exhibitions, conferences and concerts with a capacity of around 3000 people using the infield area.

The Project Board includes representation from Sportscotland and High Life Highland.

Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson said: "We have ambitious plans for the future of the Highlands and we are right to be ambitious. We want to have excellent sports facilities that will be available for all of Highland's young people to perform their best.

"Just look at the wonderful success of Team GB in the Rio Olympics! Congratulations to all those involved, particularly our own Stephen Milne scooping a silver medal for swimming and Inverness rower Alan Sinclair’s success in coming 4th and narrowly missing a medal. In order for our future generations to succeed they need the best possible facilities and opportunities.

"We have already invested in new facilities for rugby and golf as part of our West Link project. Our plans for a state of the art regional sports centre, with velodrome, indoor tennis, gymnastics, athletics and judo would be a fantastic asset to the Highlands. It would be an investment in our young people’s future and would also create jobs and stimulate inward investment with conferences and sports tourism.

"Olympic medal winners never got anywhere without being ambitious! So let us be ambitious!"

The business case will be considered as part of the Council’ Capital Programme review at its meeting in October.