At their meeting on 23rd January 2006, the Highland Council Planning (policy), Development, Europe and Tourism Committee agreed to the service of a notice on the owners of Viewhill, the former youth hostel at 1 Old Edinburgh Road, Inverness, to secure emergency repairs to arrest the damage being caused to the building by dry rot. If the owner does not comply with this notice, the Council has powers to implement the works and re-charge the owner. Non compliance by the owner could lead to further direct action by the planning authority which has powers to serve a repairs notice under the Planning (listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Scotland Act 1997 which may ultimately lead to a compulsory purchase order.

The Trust has met with representatives of the Highland Council to discuss how we could work in partnership with them to achieve the repair and re-use of Viewhill if negotiations with the current owner prove unsuccessful. It is a listed building of immense significance to Inverness. It was built c.1835 for the engineer, Joseph Mitchell who worked with Thomas Telford and had a seminal role in the development of Inverness. His projects included the Caledonian Canal, the development of the first sewerage system for Inverness, extraction of the towns first water supply from the Ness, and paving many of the streets with Caithness flagstone.

Viewhill, which is currently derelict, is a striking white harled villa with red sandstone detailing and occupies a prominent site on the corner of Culduthel Road / Old Edinburgh Road, overlooking the River Ness. This is a building which deserves every effort to be made to save it for the people of Inverness. Congratulations to Highland Council for having the courage and vision to use the planning legislation to help secure the future of Viewhill.