The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Council plans dramatic lighting for Town House
Dramatic new lighting is being considered to showcase the historic Inverness Town House when its covers finally come off.
Highland Council has applied for planning permission to fit “architectural lighting” to themainfacade of the grand building.
The scheme would see lights installed on the building itself and on the pavement, rather than being floodlit from a greater distance.
Lighting experts say this will help “highlight and define the features and character of the building”.
Highland Council has applied for planning permission to make the alterations because of the Town House’s category A-listed status.
The project will also be put before city councillors after the local elections in May.
Inverness city manager David Haas said: “Consideration is being given to how best display the Town House at night.
“Inrecognition of theimportance of ensuring that visitors are attracted to boost the city centre economy, officers will be presenting options for new lighting to City of Inverness area councillors after the elections in May.”
The plans have been lodged with a design statement by lighting consultants Lightfolio.
They said: “The lighting scheme devised for the TownHouse is an architectural lighting scheme rather than a floodlighting scheme.
“The difference being this scheme serves to highlight and define the features and character of the building after dark, rather than simply throw a flat blanket of light at it from a distance, as this does little to define and celebrate the inherent craftsmanship and beauty of the building.”
The lighting would be made up of LEDs in an attempt to minimise energy consumption.
The Town House has been covered in a wrap for almost two years during a £ 4.2million refurbishment.
Mr Haas revealed earlier this month that the council expects to remove the shroud and reveal the revamped exterior early in this year’s tourist season.