New vision for Muirtown and South Kessock

Scottish Canals and The Highland Council are inviting the public to help shape the future of Muirtown Basin and South Kessock in Inverness at a series of public workshops being held later this month.

The masterplan sessions will run on Wednesday 26 February - from 10.45am - 4.45pm at Merkinch Community Centre and from 5.30pm - 8.30pm at Muirtown Primary School.

The public are invited back to Merkinch Community Centre from 6pm on Thursday 27 February to view progress of the design work and these ideas will be presented at 7pm. It is hoped the sessions will generate a number of ideas and proposals to help ensure the long-term future of the area.

There is also an opportunity for the public to take part in introductory walks around the project area, both starting at 9.30am on  Wednesday 26 February.  One walk will focus on Muirtown Basin and will start from Scottish Canals’ Caledonian Canal Office at Muirtown Wharf; the other walk will look at South Kessock and the nature reserve and will start at Merkinch Community Centre.

Christopher Breslin, Planning and Regeneration Manager at Scottish Canals, said: "As the gateway to the Caledonian Canal, Muirtown Basin is an area of incredible importance to both the canal network and the wider Highland economy.

“There is a huge opportunity to transform Muirtown and South Kessock into a bustling tourism destination and outdoor leisure hub, and we believe this should be a collaborative process. We are committed to working with the local community to create a shared vision for the future of the area - one that will bring vibrancy, activity and add value to the economy.

“Muirtown Basin is intrinsically linked to the history of the 200-year-old canal and it’s vitally important to Scottish Canals that it plays a key role in the future of the waterways. I’d urge anyone who is interested in helping us to create something special at this beautiful location to come along to the masterplan workshops.”

The Muirtown Basin and South Kessock area is identified by The Highland Council as a key regeneration priority in the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan.  Muirtown Basin is the northern gateway into the Caledonian Canal. The study area also includes South Kessock and its adjoining Local Nature Reserve, as well as Carse Industrial Estate.

The masterplan workshops are being funded through the Scottish Government’s mainstream charrette programme and through contributions from Scottish Canals and The Highland Council.

The information gathered from these workshops will assist in the preparation of a Development Brief for the area which the Council would aim to publish in draft form by the end of June this year. The Development Brief would later be adopted as Supplementary Guidance to the Local Development Plan, which means it would guide any future planning applications for development in the area.

Councillor Ian Brown, The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee Leader, will open the event. He said: “We are delighted that Scottish Government has assisted the Council and Scottish Canals with the running of this masterplan workshop. Development opportunities within Muirtown and South Kessock are key elements of the development strategy for Inverness. This event will allow us to review what type and layout of development is best for key locations and to reflect on people’s ideas for regeneration and general improvements to the area. 

“The workshop will be interactive and people will be able to see the designs as they develop, so even if they can only spare a few minutes I think it will be very worthwhile to drop by.”

For more information on the timetable for the workshops, please see Scottish Canals and The Highland Council’s websites