A topping out ceremony was held on the site of Scotland’s first purpose-built Justice Centre in Inverness on Thursday 29 November.
SCTS Chief Executive Eric McQueen, Grampian Highland and Islands Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle, Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael and Robertson Northern Project Director Jeff Hedley were joined by local sheriffs, court staff and justice centre partners at the ceremony to mark the end of the structural work on the building.
Scotland’s first purpose-built Justice Centre in Inverness is on schedule and due to be completed late 2019.
Eric McQueen, SCTS Chief Executive added: “This is an important milestone towards the delivery of the new Justice Centre and a chance to mark and celebrate our progress.
“We can already see the impact this imposing building will have on the city and its completion will pave the way for redevelopment of the current court building into a major tourism opportunity for Inverness.
“As well as the building, there is a strong emerging partnership approach to delivering the integrated justice services around which the Centre is designed.”
Frank Reid, Managing Director, Robertson Northern said: “This is a significant milestone for the Inverness Justice Centre, one that the extended team at Robertson have been tirelessly working towards since the project started in March.
“The project is intricate in its design and architectural elements and the team has been meticulous in every aspect of their work. We are thrilled the project is progressing so well and look forward to delivering the completed Justice Centre next year.”
View 360 degree animated models of the new justice centre:
Interior
Interior 2
Roof
Exterior
Exterior 2
Notes for editors
The design was approved by The Highland Council Planning Committee in September 2017 following extensive and successful public and stakeholder engagement.
The justice centre is being constructed on the site of a former bus depot on Longman Road next to the Police Headquarters in Inverness.
Organisations and services represented in the justice centre include:
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Families Outside
- Highland Council (Criminal Justice Social Work)
- HMCTS (Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, Employment Tribunal)
- NHS Highland
- Police Scotland
- Scottish Women’s Aid
- Witness Service/Victim Support Scotland
The justice centre will have six new courtrooms that will incorporate the very latest digital technologies to simplify and enhance the experience for all users of the justice system. Separate and discrete areas will be created for jurors, witnesses and the local faculty. Facilities for video links and recording of evidence for children and vulnerable witnesses are included. Within the court complex, criminal courts are located on the first floor and civil courts and tribunal spaces on the ground floor, segregating building users.
The new justice centre includes a colonnaded façade leading from an attractive public space with trees and gardens.
The Inverness Justice Centre, being delivered by Robertson in partnership with Wilmott Dixon, was procured through Scape’s National Major Works framework, since superseded by Major Works Scotland - part of Scape’s National Construction framework.