Highland charity prepares to relocate from Inverness city centre store as site to be redeveloped for new homes
An Inverness charity shop is relocating from its city centre building which is to be demolished and the site redeveloped for affordable homes.
New Start Highland, whose work includes supporting homeless people, is beginning its final stock clearance at its Church Street store before moving to its newly-renovated outlet in the city's Carsegate Road North.
A four-storey building housing 10 one-bedroom flats and a shop on the ground floor will be built on the site by city developer Ark Estates which was behind the award-winning housing development in Raining’s Stairs.
In a separate Church Street development, Axcel Hospitality has been granted plannng permission to convert the neighbouring redundant office block previously occupied by the Department of Work and Pensions into a 76-bedroom hotel.
William Gray, Ark Estates managing director, said while Church Street had provided a space for New Start Highland to operate and raise money from for many years, he was delighted the social enterprise has found a more suitable retail space to relocate to.
"The organisation offers an invaluable service to the Highland community and we wish them all the best in their new location," he said.
"The current building on Church Street comprises three conjoined structures and has been altered over the years - leaving a complex layout of floors with limited access - making it unviable for practicable conversion.
"We are thrilled to be able to completely redevelop the space and house 10 much-need affordable homes, along with a more usable, purpose-built retail space in the heart of Inverness city centre."
New Start Highland’s chief executive James Dunbar welcomed the site's future new use.
"As a charity which supports people experiencing homelessness and delivers employability training, we are happy to see our Church Street shop transformed into affordable and mid-market housing," he said.
"This will also deliver jobs at a particularly difficult time for the Highland economy."
He said the organisation had followed Scottish Government guidance regarding the coronavirus pandemic and waited until it was safe to re-open the shop and clear stock before moving to newly-fitted out premises which would offer a covid-secured shopping experience.
He expected the final clearance to continue up to Friday July 24.
"Our recently renovated outlet at 9 Carsegate Road North now houses our widest-ever range of stock including affordable furniture, paint and bikes," he said.
"Within our warehouse we have a Unique Ness concession with an exciting range of bespoke items and Frenchic paint.
"Over the past 20 years we have shown initiative by taking positive action and this move is no exception.
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"Our consolidated Carsegate Road North outlet reflects our front-footed response to the urgent and evolving needs of our Highland community in light of the Covid-19 pandemic."
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