History of the A96 Corridor Plans; did you know?

There may be some people who are wondering how all the plans for the expansion of Inverness arose. You may be interested in this report from 2004:

THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, EUROPE AND TOURISM COMMITTEE – 28 JANUARY 2004

MASTERPLAN FOR THE A96 CORRIDOR

Report by Director of Planning and Development; published on 20 January 2004

"This report seeks authority to commission consultants to prepare a Master Plan for the long term development of the strategic A96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn as identified in the Council’s Structure and Local Plans."

"The review of the Inverness Local Plan (pp.18-20) and more recent City-Vision acknowledge the strategic importance and suitability of the A96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn as the optimum location for longer term development post-2011. The creation of a chain of new settlements capable of accommodating up to 30,000 people is envisaged. The planning of these communities will require to be closely integrated with substantial transport investment required to upgrade the trunk A96 road and Aberdeen rail links together with intersecting local distributor/bus routes. Opportunities exist for new public transport interchange facilities serving these settlements and linking their residents to employment and higher-order services
situated along the corridor within Nairn and Inverness city centre. Comparable enabling actions are required to build and strengthen the key utility networks."

"The bulk of land making up the Corridor is owned by two estates – Moray and Cawdor. Long term land management objectives need to be aligned with the emerging development opportunities. This is very productive ground and high amenity countryside. As the draft Local Plan indicates, within a matrix of active agricultural units, forests and habitats, landowner and agency initiatives are needed to construct a ‘green’ framework for future development. Retained farms, woodland and new structural forest areas should coincide with wildlife conservation corridors, sustainable drainage networks, recreational zones and connecting cycle/bridle/footpaths. Long distance routes should demarcate the outer edges of the A96 Corridor, following in turn close by the Firth and also along the ‘high forest’ path network between Culloden-Kildrummie."

"The draft Local Plan prioritises the development of established housing and community land allocations situated within existing settlements, predominantly serviced ground located on the immediate outskirts of Inverness and Nairn. These areas have sufficient capacity to meet the bulk of expected needs until 2011. The Council has applied a corresponding policy within the A96 Corridor (pp.53-54) which sets a strict presumption against piecemeal and premature development during that period. The sole exception to this safeguarding policy is the strategic business and freight park which is being developed by a public-private consortium in conjunction with upgrading of Inverness airport as a 24 hour transport hub and construction of a new dedicated access road (expected to commence shortly)."

"The scale of development opportunities proposed for the Corridor, the wide range of interests to be consulted and accommodated and the long lead times necessary to secure development agreements and associated funding require the early preparation of a comprehensive planning framework for the Corridor as a whole."

"The Committee is aware of the extremely heavy work commitments already bearing on staff within the Planning & Development Service. The preparation of an overall masterplan for the A96 Corridor is a reasonably distinct and freestanding piece of work which should also make a prestigious commission for specialist consultants working under appropriate supervision."

"RECOMMENDATION
5.1 The Committee is asked to authorise the selection of consultants to prepare an A96
Corridor Master Plan at an estimated cost of £30,000."

Some of the 'opportunities' mentioned in the above paragraphs had missed the boat for the Inverness Local Plan which was at the, "Draft Deposit with Modifications' stage in April 2003 so this 'master plan' for the A96 Corridor was carried forward as non-statutory guidance.