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A new synthetic sports pitch at an Inverness secondary school could be ready for use by late September.
Completion of the all-weather games pitch (AWP) facility being built beside Culloden Academy would mark the first phase of a controversial multi-million pound masterplan to build a new bigger school.
Highland Council appointed builders Morrison Construction to lead the project to create a 7205 sq m pitch with fencing and lights on the school’s existing sports pitch.
It would serve both pupils and members of the public outside of school hours and would be suitable for a whole array of different sporting purposes.
Special reports had to be commissioned because of the potentially sensitive nature of the location, not far from Culloden Battlefield and historic Culloden House.
The masterplan for the long term redevelopment of Culloden Academy proposes construction in three phases and the eventual demolition of the current school building.
Parents have raised concerns over the slow pace of development and questioned whether the new buildings will be adequate to house the overcrowded school’s fast-growing pupil roll.
A council spokeswoman confirmed: “Highland Council awarded a £1.5 million contract for an all weather pitch to Morrison Construction in May 2024.
“The pitch will be used by both Culloden Academy during school hours and available for community used outwith school hours for public hire.
“It will be suitable for a range of sports, with pitch markings for football, and hockey
“Works are ongoing with a tennis, basketball, muster area being installed at the bottom of the synthetic pitch with an estimated completion date around the end of September.”