Feasibility Study and Business Plan for the Former Eastgate Hostel

Tender description

Inverness City Heritage Trust wishes to appoint a conservation accredited architect or surveyor and team to produce a feasibility study, business plan and outline design brief to completion of RIBA stage 2 for the proposed reconstruction and reuse of the former Eastgate Hostel building in Inverness. Lot 1: 1.1 Introduction Inverness City Heritage Trust is an independent charity whose principal aim is to promote and encourage the protection, preservation and enhancement of the historic environment of Inverness. 1.2 Background The former Eastgate Hostel occupies a prominent site at 36–40 Eastgate within Inverness city centre. The building was severely damaged by fire in 2012 and now largely comprises its principal street-facing elevation, with the remainder of the site vacant. Situated adjacent to the Eastgate Shopping Centre and within the Inverness Riverside Conservation Area, the site occupies a strategically important city-centre location and presents a significant opportunity for heritage-led regeneration, placemaking, economic development and community benefit. 1.3 Requirement The Trust wishes to commission a detailed feasibility study, business plan and outline design work in order to determine a viable new use for the former Eastgate Hostel building. The Trust is keen to explore creative ideas for an end use, especially given the constrained nature of the site. Both single and multi-use options will be considered with a partial space for public use encouraged. Repairs to the surviving historic fabric of the building will be guided by Historic Environment Scotland’s standards and the building should retain its main façade and reform the historic roof line. A sympathetic outline design which respects the surviving historic material and the wider conservation area is essential.