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Invergordon Town Hall - Community Asset Transfer and Redevelopment

Proposal code: THC-2026-07-173

We would like to transfer Invergordon Town Hall to community ownership , redevelop it and create a vibrant multifunctional space hosting events, entertainment and hospitality for all in the area.

1. What we want to do

We want to bring Invergordon Town Hall into community ownership, restore and renovate it into a multifunctonal civic space for use by the community.  We are seeking funding for this renovation project.

The renovation project will:

• Fully restore the Category B listed facade
• Upgrade the building fabric for energy efficiency and accessibility
• Configure the interior as flexible, self-contained units suitable for multiple tenants or enterprises
• Equip the auditorium as a multi-use events space with retractable seating and AV infrastructure

We envision shutting the building for the full renovation process, lasting approxiately three years.

Once reopened, the Town Hall will be operated as a social enterprise for public benefit by an organisation dedicated to revitalising Invergordon's civic life and reinvesting any surplus into community wellbeing.  The purpose of this organisaton will be to act as a steward and facillitator, ensuring the Town Hall remains accessible, lively and financially sustainable, while all activity contributes to community benefit.  Its core functions will include:

Managing the ground floor as a multi-use civic hub

The ground floor will provide Invergordon with an adaptable public venue, hosting events, exhibitions, performances, workshops, markets, meetings and celebrations.  With retractable seating, flexible staging and basic bar facilities, the space can transofrm easily from a daytime civic and social space to an evening cultural venue.  The entrance and foyer area will be designed as flexible, shared-use space, capable of operating as:

• a welcoming public threshold and gathering space
• an extension of the upstairs cafe during daytime service
• exhibition, recption or overflow space during events and performances

The social enterpise operator will coordinate bookings community use and programming, ensuring the space remains affordable and active throughout the year.

Operating or leasing the cafe and restaurant (primarily the first floor)

The first floor will house the primary cafe/restaurant seating area, kitchen and associated back-of-house functions, along with small office space.  While the cafe will be primarily first-floor baaed, its operation will be intentionally designed to integrate with the ground-floor entrance space during cafe opening hours, supporting commercial viability and activating the building at street level.  This arrangement allows the cafe to function either as a seld-contained leased unit operated by an independent provider or as a directly operated social-enterprise cafe, depending on future capacity and funding decisions.  In both cases, community benefit is retained with rental income or trading surplus being reinvested into the operation of the Town Hall and its wider civic programme.  If operated directly, the cafe will prioritise affordable, locally sourced, low carbon food and create supported employment and training opportunities, including partnerships with organisations such as For You Training in Tain.

2. Why is this important

The regeneration of Invergordon Town Hall and the establishment of a social enterprise to operate it will bring wide-ranging benefits across every dimension of community life: economic, cultural, social, environmental and civic.  These benefits are rooted in an inclusive, place-based vision of regeneration that tackles structural inequalities and builds long-term resilience.

This project has been asked for repeatedly by residents of Invergordon and the surrounding area and will help the redevelopment of the town centre, generating some much needed positivity and a community focal point in an area of high social deprivation.

3. What positive impact will the project have?

This proposed project addresses multiple, interconnected sectoral needs in Invergordon and the wider area.

Economic need: by creating dignified, locally rooted employment; keeping value circulating in the local economy; and providing affordable, flexible space for events, enterprise and culture.

Regeneration need: by restoring a prominent civic landmark, anchoring footfall and activity in the town centre, and reversing visible and psychological decline.

Health need: by reducing isolation and loneliness through a welcoming civic space for gathering, activity, and participation, and by supporting access to nutritious, affordable food through the first-floor cafe.

Environmental need: by retrofitting and reusing an existing building; embedding energy efficiency and renewable design; shortening supply chains; and modelling low-carbon, community-centred living.

Social wellbeing need: by rebuilding pride, purpose and connection - creating a place for the tending of relationships that underpin a healthy, resilient society.

4. Key milestones achieved so far and next steps?

So, we have secured funding to conduct basic structural and timber surveys and working with an architect have srawn up a proposal for the amended layout of the building.

We have submitted our formal asset transfer request and are currently waiting for the Area Committee to consider our applictation which we understand will happen on 10th August 2026.

The full CAT we submitted, along with some supporting documents are attached here for further information.

5. Anticipated start and end date

If we get a positive response to our CAT, we would hope to have legals concluded within 6 months and renovation work to start mid 2027.  We then anticipate the renovation taking up to three years.

 

• Arts & Heritage
• Community Hub
• Job Creation
• Local Events

• Black Isle & Easter Ross