Plans for the new £34m Inverness Royal Academy have been unveiled.

Staff, stakeholders, Parent Council representatives and local Councillors were all in attendance to learn of the provisional details for the build.

By mid-2016, it is expected the Inverness Royal Academy, which will have a larger pupil capacity as a result of the expansion works, will be housed in a modern, well-appointed four storey building on the current blaes sports area. New all-weather pitches and upgraded sports facilities are also planned.

At the meeting, planners said there was a lot of flexibility in terms of what the school's designs contained.

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One early decision was the choice of the blaes area between the current building and Culduthel Woods as the focus of the new campus, with the feature of twin atrium spaces to help improve social areas.

Explaining the decision, Brian Thomson, Managing Director of jmarchitects who are designing the building in collaboration with Highland Council, said: "One advantage of a build on this side is to open up a southern aspect. This also means that playground space will all be on the south side of the building. We are considering separate entrances on the south side for pupils, visitors and for the sports area. Social space is a critical one and this will include two atrium spaces lit from above."

At present, the top floor of the new project is planned to include Science and Art accommodation as well as a spacious external terrace, while a 300-seated performance venue is also included in the plans.

The project is due to proceed so that education can continue as normal in the existing premises, while the new build is under construction. Once completed, the old building will then be demolished to create space for two new all-weather pitches.

(JP)