Latest news with #JasonKelman
STV News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Vision to transform Inverness Castle into tourist attraction moves closer to reality
A nine-year vision to transform Inverness Castle from an ageing court building into a tourist attraction is a step closer to reality. STV News was given rare access earlier this week to see inside the historic site, which has been under wraps behind barriers for several years. Work is still under way, but what's taking shape promises to be a unique and immersive experience that will celebrate Highland culture, history, and storytelling. The £40m project includes cutting-edge interactive technology, designed to guide visitors on a two-hour journey through the spirit of the Highlands. Amy MacLeod of High Life Highland said: 'We're inviting people to discover the spirit of the Highlands through authentic stories gathered from communities across the region. It's about history, culture, language and, most importantly, the people who live here.' The project has faced setbacks including Brexit-related delays and industry-wide labour shortages, but the team behind it remains optimistic. Jason Kelman from Highland Council, who has overseen the transformation, said: 'It's the iconic building in Inverness, on postcards, in photos. To be part of its refurbishment has been a real privilege. I'm proud of how far we've come.' There's still no confirmed opening date but after nine years in the making, the rebirth of Inverness Castle is finally within sight. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
17-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish castle's £39m transformation into ‘world class' visitor attraction delayed
The castle is set to open as a visitor attraction. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Scottish castle, which was set to reopen in the summer, is now facing a delay. The opening of a £39 million transformation of Inverness Castle to create a 'world class' visitor attraction has been pushed back from the planned reopening this summer - with completion now expected later this year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leading figures guiding the ambitious redevelopment put the delay down to labour shortages on the contract as well as issues with materials. The Inverness Castle Experience, which involves Highland Council and Highlife Highland, is set to transform the castle from its past uses as a prison and courtroom to a visitor attraction. A virtual guide in the form of a dog named Cuillin will lead younger guests through the experience. A bistro and bar will also be part of the site. The reasons for delays are due to labour shortages and issues with materials. | PA The cost of the work is being covered by £34.5m in funding, including £30m from the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal, external , and £5.5m in borrowing. The borrowing is to be repaid from the castle's revenue. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Make sure you keep up to date with Heritage and History news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. Labour shortages and issues with materials Speaking to the Inverness Courier, Jason Kelman, the principal project manager of the Inverness Castle Experience, said: 'We hope to have the buildings completed by mid-August and the landscaping of the exterior completed by mid-September. 'Two issues have held us back - labour shortages on the contract, partly through our focus on favouring local sub-contractors at a time when construction projects in the Highlands are booming and local sub-contractors spreading themselves thin. 'Secondly, there have been issues with materials, with the stonework all natural stone. At times, what's been quarried has hit seams where the quality is not quite what we expect and therefore a lot of stone has had to be rejected. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Inverness Castle is facing a slight delay. | Universal Images Group via Getty 'But for projects of this nature and scale, on a grade A-listed structure, it is always going to be complicated and challenging and there are many examples where budgets and timescales have been far over-run. 'I've got 35 years of experience in the construction industry and I think we've done pretty well on this project. 'To be where we are, hopefully just a matter of weeks late, I'm really pleased with the progress and the great quality of work that we have seen put in place.' Inverness Castle's history The sandstone Inverness Castle was built in 1830s and 40s to plans drawn by architect William Burn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, a castle had occupied the site from possibly as far back as the 11th Century. Over the centuries, the site fell under the control of the forces of Edward I, Robert the Bruce and James I, II and IV. Inverness Castle pictured in 1936. |In 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied entry to the castle by George Gordon, Earl of Huntly. After a three-day siege by her supporters, the keeper Alexander Gordon was captured and hanged. Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces blew the castle up in 1746 to prevent it from falling into the hands of government troops. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Press and Journal
16-07-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
First look inside how £39m transformation of Inverness Castle will 'tell the story of the Highlands'
Inverness Castle's transformation is nearing its completion – with some areas of the redevelopment already finished. The £39 million project is on track to open in autumn according to principal project manager Jason Kelman. From being home to a prison and criminal courts, it will soon feature immersive rooms aiming to celebrate the 'past, present and imagined' of the Highlands. Mr Kelman said the north tower construction work is completed and will now undergo a deep cleaning process before opening. He said: 'I think we've done pretty well on this contract. 'I've done a lot of listed building contracts over my time, I've got 35 years of experience in the construction industry. 'To be where we are on a project of this size and scale and complexity, in the time it's taken, it's very good.' Despite challenges holding up work, he is still feeling positive about opening later this year. The project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council and other public sector agencies. Mr Kelman said the focus on making sure local contractors have been utilised is causing a slight hiccup due to a Highland construction 'boom'. Mr Kelman added: 'Overall on the programme, we have had a couple of issues which have held us back slightly. 'One of the biggest issues we've been hit by is labour shortages. When we set the contracts we wrote into the tender we wanted local businesses to be used. 'That has probably come back to bite us slightly because the construction industry within the highlands is booming at the moment. 'We have also had issues with materials, as it is natural stone which we're using and sometimes what had been quarried out wasn't to the quality of our needs. 'At the beginning, a lot of material prices were going up, so we did an exercise to order as much as we could. 'The final pieces which we're waiting on include glass and glazing windows which are coming from Austria. 'But it isn't something to worry about. I've worked on other projects where we have delays, where we're talking months and months. 'We're not there with this project. We're really looking at, at most, weeks.' Head of The Inverness Castle Experience Garry Marsden has said the new attraction is 'fairy-tale-like' by combining the magic with the castle setting. Joining from his role at Sandringham Estate, he is looking forward to seeing a huge number of customers enjoy the experience, of which 220,000 are expected annually. Mr Marsden said: 'The Inverness Castle Experience is completely different to what people will perceive it to be. 'If you got 100 people in this room and ask them for expectations, they would never guess what is behind those walls and in each room. 'It's something completely different and I think that's important. This is telling the stories of the Highlands, the faces, the sounds and so much more. 'Inverness is the gateway to the Highlands – and people who come here can hopefully take some of that information away.' Mr Marsden will head up a staff team of around 90 once the castle experience is open.
