Scotland is to become home to one of the world's largest permanent indoor ice climbing facilities once construction of an ambitious £2million project in Kinlochleven is completed.

Nestled between the Glencoe and Ben Nevis ranges, the Ice Factory will offer the 280,000 mountaineering enthusiasts who visit Lochaber every year the chance to practice their skills on an indoor ice wall thought to be the largest in the world, and a competition-standard rock wall.

The Ice Factory project will employ 18 staff when it opens this coming winter and will house over 1000 square metres of indoor rock and ice climbing.  The centre will also boast Scotland's first articulated rock climbing wall and dedicated instruction bay as well as a multi-gym, sauna and steam centre, child activity zone, café, and outdoor equipment retail unit. 

The proposed development is centred on the conversion of a B-Listed disused carbon storage bunker, a remnant of Kinlochleven's former aluminium industry. The project was initially developed by the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust (KLDT) which successfully attracted environmental renewal funding of £770,000 from the Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) Network, sportscotland funding of £275,000, and a £702,000 European Regional Development Fund grant through the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme. Having decided the basic use for the building they sought potential operators, the successful one being Ice Factory Ltd.

The renovated building has been leased by KLDT to the Ice Factory whose managing director Jamie Smith is from Lochcarron in Wester Ross. The company is to invest £250,000 in the project as Mr Smith believes the Ice Factory, which is located in the heart of one of Scotland's most popular climbing areas, will be ideally placed to appeal to the mountaineering market.  He said:

"I've been climbing in Scotland for 20 years, but had never been to Kinlochleven until four years ago.  That was when I saw the carbon building.  It is a wonderful example of industrial Edwardian architecture but I think its height and scale has made it a poor candidate for redevelopment in the past.  Luckily for me it had every attribute I needed for the climbing centre and it is right in the middle of one of Europe's prime mountaineering areas. With this superb facility, people will be able to learn the basics, develop new techniques and train before taking to the hill."

The Ice Factory will provide an all-weather alternative to the thousands of enthusiasts who come to scale the heights in Lochaber every year - an area as renowned for unpredictable weather as for spectacular mountain ranges.  The operators also hope to establish the facility as a first-class training centre for local guides and mountaineering instructors using the purpose-built training area.

Since the closure of the aluminium smelter owned by Alcan UK Ltd in June 1999, KLDT, Lochaber Enterprise, Highland Council and the private sector have been working together to improve the economic situation in the village.  News of this development, which will provide valuable employment and transform a derelict building, has come as a welcome boost to the area.

Chair of the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust, Councillor Drew McFarlane Slack said:  "KDLT has worked towards developing the carbon bunkers for four years as part of the ongoing redevelopment of Kinlochleven.  Finding a suitable economic use for the former carbon bunker has been a challenge, but this project, which we have developed with Jamie Smith and his team, will establish Kinlochleven as a national and hopefully international climbing destination."

The project received assistance from both HIE and the Local Enterprise Company, Lochaber Enterprise.  Charlotte Wright, acting chief executive of Lochaber Enterprise, welcomed the news:  "These exciting plans mark the start of a new chapter for Kinlochleven.  Not only will it bring a derelict building back to commercial use, but will provide a new focus and identity for the village.  It will have immediate benefits for the community with the provision of 18 jobs when the centre opens, and the fact that it could become an international competition venue will be a boost to the whole area, and help put Kinlochleven firmly on the map."

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "The sportscotland Lottery Fund is proud to support the Ice Factory project. sportscotland is committed to providing  first class facilities across Scotland to encourage more people to participate in sport and maintain a healthier lifestyle. I am sure this development will prove to be a popular addition to Kinlochleven and promote Scotland through international competitions as a perfect place to come and enjoy this popular sport."

Mr Smith continued:  "We discussed this project with a number of agencies across the UK but our preferred location was always in the heartland of British mountaineering - Lochaber.  Without the assistance, financial and otherwise, of Lochaber Enterprise, the KLDT and sportscotland Lottery Fund, it is unlikely a venture like this would ever have come to Scotland."

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (McoS) has put its full support behind the project.  It regards the ice wall as being of 'national importance' and confirms the Ice Factory will become a Regional Centre for the West Highlands.  Kevin Howett, national officer for MCoS, said:  "This is a very exciting venture, which will benefit all in the mountaineering community."

The Ice Factory directors are to dedicate the facility to the memory of Andrew John "Andy" Anderson, KLDT's project officer, who did so much to realise the project. In addition to being an extremely accomplished mountaineer, Andy was previously the Technical Director at the National Outdoor Centre in Glenmore Lodge and for over three decades was a fulcrum figure in Scottish Mountaineering Safety Training. He firmly believed in the promotion of training as a means of developing safety and awareness among those participating in outdoor pursuits, and as such the Ice Factory was very close to his heart.  He died tragically in August 2002 in Kinlochleven.