Culbokie community hub plan pushes on with new piece of project
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Ambitious ongoing plans to put the “heart back” into a Black Isle village through the creation of a central hub have taken another big step after an application was lodged for a further piece of the wider project.
Residents have worked for years to create a true centre to the village of Culbokie, which had previously lacked any sort of community focal point.
Those aspirations took a big step forward in 2015, when the community bought land at Glascairn directly opposite Culbokie Shop with a view to create a “vibrant new village heart” comprising a community hub, village green and other facilities.
The purchase of the land in 2015, which was made under the Community Right-to-Buy scheme, was followed by a successful planning application in 2021 for the hub’s first two buildings, the new village green, and associated car parking.
And now an application has been lodged for a multi-use facility which will slot into the site as part of the wider plans.
If approved, the new multi-use building would sit alongside the others already earmarked for the hub, on land immediately next to the main B9169 road, with the Culbokie Green immediately to the north-east.
The single-storey building (pictured) would have a footprint of 100 sq m and house a mix of treatment rooms, office space, hot desking and a meeting room.
In a supporting statement lodged alongside the application, the Culbokie Community Trust said: “The proposal sits alongside the development of a new village green called Culbokie Green as a focal point for a range of outdoor activities.
“Culbokie Green has been installed with the inclusion of trees wildflower meadows, paths and seating a gathering space and shelter, a community orchard, a natural play space and outdoor table tennis.
“So far, the community have been making good use of Culbokie Green. It will also integrate with a proposed new active travel route running alongside the site and through the village. The design has been developed with the Culbokie Community Trust and the wider community with community consultation presentations.
“It is hoped that the building will encourage more visitors in the area with the proposal of the treatment rooms as well as providing office spoace for future local businesses.”
“It is felt that the proposal will offer additional amenities for both the residents and visitors of Culbokie that will continue to offer an exceptional multi-use facility for years to come.”
