Graham Construction is set to begin work on the hospitality elements of the project to transform Lews Castle in Stornoway after being awarded the £3.5 million third phase contract.

Phase 3 will include fitting out the visitor and hospitality areas on the ground floor of the Castle and the creation of luxury accommodation on the upper floors.

Work on the Castle will be ongoing into 2016 and the public opening of the new facilities will be phased around these works. The Learning and Community spaces have already been used for a number of events and will become fully available to schools and other groups from early in the New Year.

The new archive will open to the public early in the New Year under the direction of newly appointed archivist Seonaid McDonald, formerly the archivist of HBOS at the Museum on the Mound, Edinburgh.

Following the installation of the British Museum and National Museums Scotland loan objects the museum will fully open to the public.

Angus Campbell, Comhairle leader and chair of the Project Board, said: “This is a hugely exciting and important project for the Comhairle and the community.

“The Comhairle’s Heritage Team is working with a range of specialists and national partners to complete the development. There are stringent conditions attached to the long-term loan of priceless objects and we are enhancing certain aspects of our security system to achieve best practice.

“These additional measures will be delivered over the next few weeks and thereafter we will be in a position to confirm the opening date of the museum.”