Building: New £1.5million archive centre planned for former school

A former school in Lochaber could be turned into a new archive centre.

Highland Council is about to submit a planning application for the former Fort William Primary School.

If approved, the project would see the building being converted to provide a new Archive and Search Room (currently situated in Lochaber College), records store, meeting room and offices for a public sector partner.

Lochaber Committee chairman Councillor Thomas MacLennan and Councillor Brian Murphy visited the site before yesterday’s meeting.

The B-listed building became vacant during 2015 when the pupils transferred to the newly-built Lundavra Primary School.

The anticipated project cost for conversion of the former primary school is £1.5million with some being funded by an external partner.

A report will be presented to the planning development and infrastructure committee on November 2 presenting the business case for the conversion and seeking the necessary funding.

Councillor Murphy said: “Having the archives at the old primary school, being next door to the new council offices, will be an improvement.

“Visitors come and view the archives at the moment, but the more we can do to promote the service and make it easier for people to access, the better.”

Chris Robinson, chairman of Lochaber Local History Society, said: “It is useful to see an old building which has been derelict is to have a new function.

“The archive is a great asset to the place and it is great to see it has an assured future. There is a steady trickle of people who come in the summer to view them.

“Our local material was previously held in Inverness so it is really good to have it here.”