February 9 2023

A former department store in Inverness has been transformed into 53 apartments following a major restoration programme.

The Arnotts Building on Union Street had lain vacant since 2003 with the departure of its last tenant but has been brought back to life by a £12.5m investment by HHA, The Highland Council, Scottish Government, and Inverness City Region Deal.

This work has seen the B-listed Italianate facade made as good as new together with the refurbishment of six ground-floor shopfronts, with upper floors turned to residential use.

Solid timber doors fronting the street provide access to the homes with shutters hiding services and bin store access.

Part of a broader redevelopment effort by Swilken Estates and Ollier Smurthwaite Architects the first phase of work was delivered by Forthpoint and IBI Joiners. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Ryan Holmes on 9 Feb 2023 at 13:49 PM

Fantastic, this is how the high streets should be regenerated.

#2 Posted by modernish on 9 Feb 2023 at 15:42 PM

Dear UR,
There seems to be a few missing words...the article says "has been brought back to life by a £12.5m by HHA", but a £12.5m what?
Hopefully it's not a government grant. The properties are being let to Mid-Market Rent which is basically private rental except the landlord is a RSL. Hopefully there hasn't been a £12.5m grant to enable development that returns a profit to the RSL. If that's the case a £12.5m loan on commercial terms would be more appropriate.
Better yet the missing word is 'investment', a £12.5m investment to deliver housing in a very handsome building, now that really would be a good news story. And, dare i say an article that should be forwarded to a certain developer in Paisley!

#3 Posted by UR on 9 Feb 2023 at 15:49 PM

@2 The homes were funded by a £12.5m investment by The Highland Council, HHA, Scottish Government, and Inverness City Region Deal.

31 homes are available for social rent via The Highland Council and the remaining 22 flats are offered by HHA at mid-market-rent.

Swilken Estates completed the ground-floor retail units separately.

#4 Posted by KLD on 9 Feb 2023 at 19:10 PM

Makes a lot of sense.

In many smaller regional towns there are long-term vacant buildings that occasionally go up for sale for fairly modest sums. It would be good if the local authority could acquire them and convert them to housing.

#5 Posted by Raymond Conley-Smith on 10 Feb 2023 at 11:18 AM

This looks pretty smart.... that bus shelter though! Hardly accessible for wheelchairs/buggies?!

#6 Posted by Local loon on 15 Feb 2023 at 09:38 AM

@2. @3 ..and Ollier Smurthwaite Architects were not involved in delivery of the project - local firm Colin Armstrong Architects deserve the credit.

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