The Ironworks will be torn down after councillors reluctantly agreed a proposal to build a 155-bed hotel in its place in Inverness city centre.
It took a deciding vote from planning committee chairman Thomas MacLennan after the ballot was tied 7-7.
The decision officially calls time on the much-loved venue in Academy Street and will allow Bricks Capital to progress its plans to build a Courtyard by Marriott hotel.
Very little support was given to the proposed design of the new hotel and a lot of love was heaped on the Ironworks.
But many councillors felt they didn’t have a case to go against the recommendation from planning officers to approve the application.
Will the redesigned hotel suit Inverness city centre?
Parts of today’s south planning committee could have passed as a memorial to the much-loved venue.
Councillor after councillor lined up to say what a huge loss to Inverness the Ironworks will be.
Planning officials had previously warned it’s not up to them to decide what businesses operate in the city.
That message was accepted.
Bricks Capital’s plan to build a Courtyard by Marriott hotel was first rejected in 2020.
Back then, the planning committee called its design “monolithic”.
The developer has completely redrawn the plans since then.
This redesign seemed to win over many of the critics – there are no objections from transport planning or environmental health, and senior planners have recommended the application for approval.
The stage was set for a swift acceptance in June. But councillors on the south planning committee weren’t convinced and deferred the decision until today.
‘We want this to be a landmark, and it isn’t’
Council convener Bill Lobban is a known critic of the design. He previously said it looked like it was “designed in the Soviet era with a box of Lego”.
Councillor Lobban summed up the mood when he said: “I make no secret of the fact that I don’t like it. It could have been done so much better.
“But I can see no reason for refusal.”
Inverness Central councillor Michael Cameron put forward an amendment to defer the proposal again, but it failed by the slimmest of margins.
One councillor abstained from the vote.
Councillor Cameron said: “Does it have to be this hotel? Does it have to look like this?
“I’m not convinced. We want this to be a landmark, and it isn’t.”
Inverness Millburn councillor Isabelle Mackenzie said the design was “totally inappropriate” and would tower over its neighbours.
Inverness Ness-side councillor Andrew Mackintosh described it as “completely devoid of imagination”.
He had earlier asked the planning officers if there was anything else they could do to save the Ironworks.
The sombre reply from the council’s John Kelly was no.
Mr Kelly added: “The harsh reality is that the tenants of the Ironworks are not in control of that building.
“It is owned by a third party. It’s unfortunate but no different to an existing business like a village pub.
“It’s something that is a great resource to a sector of the community, but it’s not something the local authority has direct control over.”
What next for fans of the Ironworks?
When told he would have the deciding vote, committee chairman Thomas MacLennan said: “I take no joy from this but I need to be Mr Consistent here and vote to approve it.”
Earlier in the debate, he said: “This is a particularly difficult application to get as a new committee.
“The cultural function of the Ironworks is outwith our remit. We’re being asked if it’s possible to put a hotel like this on this site.”
There are no concrete plans for a post-Ironworks music venue for the Highland capital, but perhaps today’s announcement will jolt the community into action.
But as we sit on the cusp of a cost of living crisis, that is a lot easier said than done.
The Ironworks and Bricks Capital have both been contacted for comment.
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