Plans to turn old Inverness hospital building into a hotel

Plans have been submitted to convert a historic Georgian hospital building in Inverness into a hotel.

The Royal Northern Infirmary by the River Ness was most recently used as offices by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) but has been lying empty for the last two years.

Developer C J Hospitality has applied for planning permission to convert the B listed building into a hotel.

It would have 45 bedrooms as well as a reception area, a bar, guest lounge and kitchen facilities.

A design statement submitted to Highland Council on behalf of C J Hospitality said the high quality refurbishment plans would retain and respect the character of the building while providing a long term sustainable use.

It said the intention was to get the hotel up and running "as soon as possible".

The Royal Northern Infirmary was completed around 1804 - financed by public subscription.

Some of those donations came from people who had made their money from slaves who worked on Caribbean sugar plantations.

Most recently the former hospital served as the headquarters for UHI which moved out in 2023.