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PLANS for a Gaelic business and cultural centre in Inverness are advancing, with a formal planning application due to be submitted by the end of the year.

Architects are working on detailed plans for the building, which will be located in an empty field beside the city's only Gaelic primary school at Culduthel, and will bring all the Gaelic organisations under one roof, provide a pre-school facility and cultural centre.

Roy Pederson, chairman of the project's steering group, explained the idea emerged from discussions held by a group hoping to establish Gaelic childcare for children up to the age of three at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis. At present, the school, which opened two years ago, caters for children from the age of three upwards.

However, the demand for Gaelic medium education is growing and. over the summer holidays, two extra classrooms were added. The school roll this year stands at 137 pupils - 11 more than last year - and the nursery roll stands at 60.

"At the rate of growth, it is going to be full again soon in the next two or so years," Mr Pederson said.

Under the plans, pre-school education will be taken out of the primary school, although remain strongly linked, and transferred to the new hub, thus freeing up space in the school.

The various Gaelic organisations in Inverness, which have also been involved in the project's development, will be brought under one roof.

"The organisations in Inverness are scattered all over the place, some in rather inadequate accommodation," Mr Pederson said.

This would be a more cost-effective way of housing the organisations, enabling them to better communicate with each other, he added.

"The good news on that is that all the Gaelic organisations in the town are supportive and most of them are interested in relocating to the new building."

This would include the Scottish Government quango Bòrd na Gàidhlig, based at Stoneyfield Business Park, the Gaelic development charity Comunn na Gàidhlig, on Mitchell Lane, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, which supports the Gaelic arts, and Cli Gaidhlig, the voice of Gaelice learners, both on Academy Street, and An Comunn Gàidhealach, currently based on Church Street. Organisations will share common facilities like a reception and boardroom.

The third element is a cultural centre, a space for the Gaelic community to use. This could incorporate a small cafe and shop, selling, for example, Gaelic music.

"It will primarily be a place for the community to meet and Gaelic-related events, exhibitions and the likes," said Mr Pederson, who is also a ward councillor for Inverness South.

"There is also a fourth dimension to this. It is putting Inverness on the map as regards Gaelic culture."

Mr Pederson also think there could be a tourism spin-off.

Consultants have already carried out a feasibility study, paid for by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and a planning application is due to be submitted before the end of the year.

Work is also on-going to prepare a funding package for the project.

"There are challenges, but we are hopeful will be able to pull a viable funding package together," Mr Pederson said.

The Gaelic-hub will comprise a small part of the site, while the remainder of the field will be turned into a public park.

From the Inverness Courier...click here to leave your comments on the story.

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