Space invaders target Culloden

The National Trust for Scotland, which owns the famous site of the 1746 battle, is considering buying land around it to fend off the threat from new homes as nearby Inverness grows rapidly.

It comes as the Trust hopes to secure planning permission for its proposed 7 million visitor centre at the battlefield. An application for this will be considered by Highland Council’s Inverness planning committee on Tuesday.

The battlefield is on the outskirts of Inverness where there is an increasing demand for new houses. The population has doubled in the past 30 years from about 30,000 to 66,576 at the 2001 census and is expected to grow to over 100,000 by 2031.

Alexander Bennett, the Trust’s Culloden project co-ordinator, said: "The battlefield is under increasing pressure as Inverness grows and development is coming ever closer to us.

"It could destroy the sense of place. The battlefield has a particular atmosphere and if more housing or commercial developments spring up it could start to lose that. For many people who come to Culloden it is a pilgrimage and further development will encroach on that."

He said there is no budget for land purchase at present but an international appeal could be launched to raise funds to set up a buffer zone around the 180-acre site: "It is possible that we could enter into conservation management agreements with our neighbours to restrict what happens, but one sure way of protecting the site is through ownership [of the surrounding land]."

The new visitor centre is due to open on 16 April, 2007, the 261st anniversary of the battle, and will use characters from both sides to tell the story of the last battle fought on mainland Britain. The attraction is visited by more than 250,000 people a year, but the Trust predicts this could double by 2011.

Planning officials are recommending approval of the plans which have been developed with the help of Tony Pollard, from TV’s archeology show Two Men in a Trench, and a panel of historians. If approved, building will start on site in September.

The renowned museum designer Ralph Appelbaum, who was responsible for the US Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, will create the exhibition space.

At the same time the battlefield will be returned as near as possible to its 1746 state.

The existing visitor centre will be demolished and a futuristic replacement built 200 metres away, with a car park three times the present size.

One objection has been received from a neighbour concerned about noise, destruction of the greenbelt and the design of the new building.

The Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland has backed the plans. It said Culloden was of international historic importance and present facilities did not match its significance.

Mr Bennett said the new facility was much needed: "The current centre struggles to cope with the numbers of visitors it receives each year, and is showing its age. The new building will provide world-class interpretation and services, enabling us to offer a better visitor experience."

The battle was the last stand of the Jacobites in the failed ’45 rebellion led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart against government troops led by the Duke of Cumberland.

The defeat signalled the end of the clan system and contributed to the exodus of many Highlanders to the new world, where they played an important part in the creation and development of the US and Canada.