Ambitious plans to redevelop the Glen Urquhart Public Hall into a vibrant community hub in Drumnadrochit have secured full funding, with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) contributing up to £375,000 to the £1.5 million project.

The Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA) is leading the initiative, aiming to breathe new life into the historic building and create a vital centre for local services, events, workshops, and visitor experiences, while also supporting a part-time job and increasing community income.

Built in 1906, the traditional stone hall has deteriorated over the past decade. GURCA's comprehensive redevelopment plan includes a full refurbishment, incorporating modern upgrades, energy-efficient heating, and improved insulation.

Gabbi Armstrong, development manager at HIE, praised the community-led effort: "This is a great example of a community initiative that will bring benefits to residents and visitors. GURCA has done a great job of furthering community development in an area that has a huge number of visitors and residents, and this is an important extension of their efforts. I am delighted that we've been able to provide support and look forward to continuing to work with GURCA. Working together with other funders from an early stage has been absolutely critical to helping to support GURCA's ambitions."

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The project previously secured £602,500 from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF). Additional contributions include £70,000 from GURCA's own funds (of which £50,000 was raised through a successful community fundraiser), £30,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation, £20,000 from the Great Glen Energy company, and £5,000 from the Loch Ness Hub, a community benefit society founded by GURCA.

Significant local support also came from Soirbheas, a registered charity for Glen Urquhart and Strathglass. Soirbheas initially awarded £100,000 from its investment in the Corrimony Wind Farm and supplemented this with another £290,000 from the SSE Renewables Bhlaraidh Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund to complete the total funding package. Soirbheas, GURCA, and Glen Urquhart Community Council collaborated to create a Community Action Plan for the area.

Welcoming the support, Jimmy Murray, Chair of Soirbheas, said: "We are delighted to support this exciting project in what is our largest ever funding award. The redevelopment is about more than a building — GURCA are building opportunities for connection, collaboration, and belonging. It will be a hub where we can come together and strengthen the bonds that make our community thrive."

Susan Griffin, Chair of GURCA, commended the dedication of the local team: "The team here in Glen Urquhart, have worked tirelessly for the past 10 years to get to this point for our Hall project. Securing the total funding for the project is a significant milestone for us and we now look forward to the works taking place over the summer with the venue re-opening later in the year. I'm eternally grateful to everyone from GURCA and the community who have helped us to get to this point and to our funders who had the confidence in us to provide the investment needed for our much-loved Hall. It is a place where memories are made and friendships cemented."

GURCA, which owns and manages the hall and village green, also holds several assets leased to local groups, including Loch Ness Hub, Blairbeg Park, community woodlands, and a former Forest and Land Scotland site at Balnain, now leased to a Men's Shed. The group further plans to develop the Old Scotmid site into a sports-focused wellbeing centre.

The project is supported by a team including architect Chris Davenport, CDMM – Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, McLeod & Aitken – QS, Fairhurst – structural engineer, and Compass as the Main Contractor. Works are expected to take place over the summer, with the venue reopening later this year.