March 29 2021

Major works to the former Arnotts department store in Inverness have broken ground with developer Swilken Estates fashioning six ground-floor commercial units on the historic Union Street facade and 53 apartments on the upper floors.

Encompassing 7-17 Union Street and extending to an iron-frame warehouse at Baron Taylor's Street to the rear the work is being championed by Highland Council as a lynchpin of city-centre regeneration.

Work will unify existing ad-hoc shop frontages by removing plastic signage and restoring the B-listed Italianate facade, with solid timber doors providing access to flats and shutters shielding servicing and bin store access.

Swilken Estates’ Stuart Pender commented: “After what has been an unprecedented 12 months for the retail sector, we are delighted to be making such a significant investment in Inverness city centre. The building will be at the heart of the regeneration of this and the wider city centre area, including adjacent Academy Street and a revamped entry point to the centre from nearby Inverness rail and bus stations.”

Designed by Ollier Smurthwaite the development is expected to complete by the third quarter of 2022. 

3 Comments

#1 Posted by CH on 29 Mar 2021 at 10:11 AM

This looks excellent and will really lift the area. Upper floor apartments a great addition too and should help maintain life in the centre. I wish more work to renovate buildings in such a way would take place, so many fine abandoned buildings across Scotland are just left to rot.

#2 Posted by SneckieMun on 29 Mar 2021 at 11:39 AM

The commercial agents involved in this deserve the real credit. Replacing barbers, vacant lets and British Heart Foundation with Jimmy Choo, Chanel and Michael Kors. Inverness is the Milan of Scotland.

#3 Posted by Stretch Armstrong on 29 Mar 2021 at 11:58 AM

Jimmy Shoe, Channel and Michael Corrs more like!

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