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.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

Are We Trying to Save Britain’s Towns Without Planning Their Future?

Walk through almost any British town centre and you can see the evidence of change.   There are empty shops where there were once businesses.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

Highland Council Ward 3 By-election - Voters urged to make sure their vote counts

Polling will take place on Thursday 1 October 2026 to elect one of five candidates standing in The Highland Council's Wick and East Caithness Ward 3 by-election.  Voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to cast their vote.  

26/9/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services

September is Scottish Start-Up Month – could your business idea become a reality?

September has become a month when Scotland's aspiring entrepreneurs are being encouraged to take a closer look at an idea that may have been sitting in the back of their minds for some time.   Scottish Start-Up Month, led by Business Gateway, has returned for 2026 with a simple message: if you have an idea for a business, this could be the month to take the first step.  

25/9/2026 : Educational Institutions

Fewer Children, More Difficult Decisions: The Future of Highland's Schools

For many years Highland Council has faced difficult decisions over small rural schools.   Some have closed, others have been mothballed, and communities have often argued that a village school is about much more than the number of children sitting in its classrooms.  

25/9/2026 : Local Authority

Glasgow’s 23,000 Council Workers Face a Major Pay Shake-Up

Glasgow City Council has taken a dramatic step in its long-running equal-pay dispute, giving notice that it intends to end existing pay arrangements for its non-teaching workforce unless an agreement can be reached with the trade unions.   Around 23,000 employees are affected.  

25/9/2026 : Employment Services

What Are the Options for Scottish Pupils Who Do Not Want the Traditional Academic Route?

Parents of teenagers in England are being told that they will need to understand a new range of vocational qualifications as their children approach the age of 14.   The Career Development Institute has welcomed the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs, which are due to start being introduced in England from 2029.  

24/9/2026 : Local Authority

The £27 Million Energy Bill Facing Highland Council – And NHS Highland's Hidden Cost

Rising energy prices are a problem for households and businesses, but there is another very large energy bill that receives much less attention.   Highland Council operates one of the largest public-sector property estates in Scotland, while NHS Highland runs hospitals, health centres, clinics and other facilities across an enormous geographical area.  

24/9/2026 : Local Authority

Public invited to Justice Service open days in Fort William and Wick

The Highland Council’s Justice Social Work teams in Lochaber and Caithness will be hosting open days in Fort William on Tuesday 6 October and Wick on Friday 9 October 2026.   The open days will provide members of the public with an opportunity to gain an insight into the Justice Service and find out more about the excellent work going on locally.  

23/9/2026 : Local Authority

Launch of New Transport Service for Renal Patients in Highland

NHS Highland and The Highland Council are pleased to announce the launch of a new bespoke year-round transport service for renal haemodialysis patients across Highland.   Funded through a grant from NHS Highland, the service marks the first phase of a new approach to patient transport delivery, designed to support the long-term development of a more sustainable, flexible and community-focused transport model for Highland.  

23/9/2026 : Local Authority

Economy and Infrastructure Committee to consider next steps on proposed Short Term Let Control Areas

Members of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee will meet next Monday (28 September 2026) to consider whether to progress proposals for new Short Term Let Control Areas across parts of Highland.   At the special meeting, councillors will be asked to consider the findings of a public consultation on proposed control areas covering Inverness City and a wider Highland Rural area, before deciding whether the proposals should be submitted to Scottish Ministers for approval.