Council concludes purchase of former Inverness care home

The site of the former Culloden Court Care Home at Murray Road, Smithton, Inverness – destroyed by fire more than three  years ago – has been secured by The Highland Council, through its Landbank Fund.

The Council has agreed to give the Elsie Normington Foundation a two-year option on the site to raise the necessary finance for a specialised play and respite centre for disabled children.

If they were able to proceed, the Foundation would either buy the land outright or rent the land from the Council at market value to ensure repayment to the Landbank Fund.

If the Foundation is not able to proceed, the Council has outline planning permission to build 17 bungalows for older people in a style similar to those built at Corsee, Nairn.

Councillor Dave Fallows, Chair, Finance Housing and Resources Committee, said: “I am delighted this deal has been concluded and that we are going to regenerate this site.

“Our first choice is to offer the land to the Foundation for the respite centre for disabled children, but we have a strong fall back option if the Foundation is not able to meet their fund-raising target.”

Elsie Normington said: “Elsie Normington Foundation are delighted to hear this positive news and thank The Highland Council for being supportive thus far in the project.  Our Business Plan is almost complete and we will announce our financial strategy at the Foundation launch in Eden Court Theatre on 20 March at the Big Spring Sing.”