Caithness Broch Project passes big milestone after lodging full application for new broch with Highland Council
The first new broch in two millennia could become “the symbol of Caithness to the world”, those behind the ambitious plans have said after lodging their planning application with Highland Council.
The Caithness Broch Project is seeking full planning permission to erect a faithful replica of a broch on land near the A9 around two kilometres to the north of Latheron.
The project would also include the creation of access, paths, parking and associated drainage.
News that the long-gestating project has reached the planning stage is a major milestone for those driving it forward.
If given the go-ahead the broch would be a multi-year construction project which aims to use historically accurate construction techniques.
The project team said Caithness, which has the highest concentration of broch sites in Scotland, is the ideal place for the construction of a new replica - and could be a massive boost for tourism and archaeological training.
“By recreating a broch, Caithness would be capitalising on that distinctiveness and providing a special visitor experience by letting them see Iron Age building practices and materials in action,” it said in a supporting statement lodged with the application.
“Secondly, the replica broch would act as a gateway for visitors to the county’s other archaeological heritage treasures such as our dramatic coastal castles, standing stones and cairns. The broch could become the symbol of Caithness to the world.
“In addition to providing an iconic tourist attraction, the building of a broch would have several other benefits. It would provide employment, from the construction phase and long after the building has been completed. During construction the use of Iron Age techniques would provide opportunities for people to train in historical conservation building techniques such as dry stone dyke building.
“The Broch Project would intend to continue providing training in these techniques long after the replica is complete. The location would become a venue for educational and research courses and events such as archaeological conferences and perhaps special themed gatherings such as weddings.”
In the supporting material the team sets out its hopes to build-upon the project in stages.
In the first instance it hopes to focus on the broch itself and its associated infrastructure.
"The process of building the broch will be a multi-year activity that will be an attraction in its own right and an opportunity for funds to be generated by the attraction during the build phase," they continued.
"We hope to allow visitors to see the unique way in which the broch will be constructed. In order to do this we propose a temporary structure adjacent to the broch possibly built from scaffolding with stairs and platforms.
"A similar arrangement is in place at Ness of Brodgar in Orkney.”
With that in mind, it is also looking to create a campsite for volunteer workers on the site who wish to stay. The campsite and planned car parking for visitors would both be set well away from the broch.
“It is our intention to provide an area for those who wish to work on the construction of the broch to stay. From our research it has become clear that most of these volunteers tend to visit for short periods of time from a couple of days up to two weeks and stay in tents.
“We have shown an area to the south of the site with pitches suitable for these tents but the provision of areas of hardstanding would also be suitable for motorhomes or caravans should they wish to stay overnight.”
Possible future phases - which are not part of the current application - include the likes of a visitor centre providing information on the history of brochs, as well as providing facilities "for a wide range of activities as heritage construction skills training and archaeological research events".
The several smaller structures which normally encircle brochs would also be a possible future phase.
