'Highland News' reports on Tuesday's Campus Application consideration

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Concerns have been raised by Westhill Community Council who want to see a roundabout and not traffic light controlled crossroads at Inshes Veterinary Centre on the B9006 Culloden Road off the A9.

Stuart Black, the council’s director of planning and development, said: "Given the recent press coverage in relation to the access arrangements for the Beechwood Campus, it is important to clarify the exact stage that we are at.

"The principle of the access arrangements has already been agreed last May at the time the planning permission in principle was granted planning permission. The detailed arrangements of the layouts for the road access at the A9 slip land and the Caulfield Road North junction will be the subject of future matters specified in conditions application – as HIE are required to submit these details under Condition 17 of the Planning Permission in Principle."

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Consideration of Delnies Planning Application Deferred

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Members of The Highland Council’ s Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications Committee have decided to further defer the consideration of a planning application by Cawdor Maintenance Trust for a major housing and leisure development at Delnies, near Nairn, until after the Examination Report into the Highland wide Local Development Plan is received by the Council.

Members took this decision based on their view that circumstances have changed since the Committee deferred this item on 5th July 2011 for a site visit. This deferral also means that the planned site visit will not take place on the 30th August, and this will now be rearranged for a later date.

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Campus application consideration

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The masterplan and design guidelines for the new UHI Beechwood Campus will be considered by The Highland Council’s Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications Committee on Tuesday (30th August).

This important development for Inverness and the Highlands was granted planning permission in principle in May 2011, and the current application arises from some of the conditions attached to that planning permission. Most importantly, the conditions require the submission of a masterplan and design guidelines for the entire site which will set out the detailed layout, plot boundaries, proposed uses, access, car parking, a landscape framework, principal infrastructure provision and phasing of development plots.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has submitted the masterplan and design guidelines for consideration by the Council.

Stuart Black, the Council’s Director of Planning and Development, said: “Given the recent press coverage in relation to the access arrangements for the Beechwood Campus, it is important to clarify the exact stage that we are at. On Tuesday, the PAC is considering the masterplan and design guidelines as well as other conditions relating to drainage and water infrastructure, archaeology and trees. The principle of the access arrangements has already been agreed last May at the time the Planning Permission in Principle was granted planning permission. The detailed arrangements of the layouts for the road access at the A9 slip land and the Caulfield Road North junction will be the subject of a future "matters specified in conditions" application – as HIE are required to submit these details under Condition 17 of the Planning Permission in Principle.

“In the meantime, the Council is happy to work with Highlands and Islands Enterprise in arranging and attending a plenary session with the local Community Councils and Transport Scotland to discuss the detailed arrangements that are likely to be submitted in the next few weeks.

“It is clear that there are medium and long term solutions to transport issues arising from new developments. A lot of work has already been undertaken to ensure that the Campus site, which is critical for the future of the city, can be accommodated by the works being considered at the moment. We will continue to work with Transport Scotland to ensure that the long term solutions are also being progressed, but we have to recognise that development cannot stop until detailed designs are complete and funding is put in place.”

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Prevention of Homelessness

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Local authorities across Scotland are teaming up to offer more options to people facing homelessness and are making significant inroads into the problem, a special seminar heard today.

All 32 councils are involved in regional hubs that examine individuals' options in the widest sense and are backed by £500,000 from the Scottish Government to cover staff training and service development.

In June, The Highland Council established a team of homeless prevention officers based in Inverness. In two months the number of homeless presentations in the city has dropped by over 50 per cent and the number of households being referred for B&B accommodation has reduced by over 60 per cent.

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New Head of Planning and Building Standards

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The Highland Council has appointed a new Head of Planning and Building Standards.

He is Malcolm MacLeod, the Council's Development Plans Manager.

Malcolm succeeds Richard Hartland, who has taken up a senior post with Moray Council.

Originally from the Western Isles, Malcolm joined the Council in 1998 from Ayrshire and has worked on a wide range of planning projects right across the Highlands since then.

He said: "I am delighted to have been appointed in this challenging role at an exciting time for the Highlands. I look forward to leading the Planning & Building Standards team to deliver high quality developments in the right places while improving our performance and customer

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