Campus application consideration

I have to admit that I am saddened by some of the more 'negative' press coverage re the Councillors decision to defer consideration on the latest Campus 'Matters Specified' application. The press seems to have forgotten that the Council fully supports this Campus project and it already has 'outline' permission.

What is so awful about elected members wanting to ensure that the decisions they take now will result in the best possible decisions on road layout being taken at some point in the future?

I suggest that readers take a look at www.invernesscampus.co.uk in order to assess for themselves just how much traffic might be generated in this area when the the SAC and Inverness College relocate and the planned new Hotel, sports and community facilities are being fully utilised. All this on a site - bounded by the main railway line and the A9 - which is in close proximity to other major employers in the area (Lifescan, Raigmore, Police, Tesco/ASDA/Other retail units) and housing.

The Council has put out the following press release

A special meeting of The Highland Council’s Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications Committee is to be held towards the end of October to determine the outstanding matters from the Inverness Campus proposal at Beechwood, Inverness. This follows a decision by the Committee to defer a decision at its meeting on Tuesday 30 August.

• Click here to see the report considered by the committee on Tuesday (pdf)

Stuart Black, the Council’s Director of Planning and Development, said: “The deferral of this matter by committee provides some time to discuss the outstanding concerns there are, particularly in relation to access. We recognise HIE’s aspiration to commence infrastructure works and deliver the first phase of the Campus project, but it’s also important that community views are taken fully into account. We know that HIE is planning further consultation and look forward to having positive discussions with the community over the next month.”

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