Out goes Whiteness and in comes the 'Inverness Western Link' into the Second National Planning Framework????????? But at least there's mention of a Nairn Bypass

As a preamble to the much anticipated arrival of consultation on a Third National Planning Framework, why not take a look at this extract from the Second NPF 'Monitoring Report'  -  published by the Scottish Government in June 2012.

It says:

'....The proposed Highland-Wide Local Development Plan makes provision for significant housing and other developments in and around Inverness, including a major urban extension of Inverness at East Seafield and Stratton, and substantial residential development at Nairn and at a new settlement at Tornagrain. The Inverness Campus is one of the sites in the Life Sciences Enterprise Area. Further development of the 
Inverness Airport Business Park is also a priority. Development will be supported by substantial investment in transport and other infrastructure. A design study for the upgrade of the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including a Nairn bypass, is being undertaken by Transport Scotland and is currently examining design options and their impacts. The Highland Council is also progressing proposals for a western link road crossing the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal. (my underline)

Highland Council is working with Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) to prepare an Inverness City vision...'

Now take a quick look at the relevant paragraph in the Second NPF itself:

214. The A96 corridor between Inverness and Nairn is the main focus of growth in the Inner Moray Firth. Highland Council's A96 Corridor Development Framework includes proposals designed to accommodate an additional 30,000 people in the area over 35 years. These include significant expansion to the East of Inverness and at Nairn, the creation of a new settlement at Tornagrain, and a residential and marina development at Whiteness. Development on this scale will require substantial investment in transport and water and drainage infrastructure and the creation of supporting green infrastructure. The STPR has identified the need to dual the A96 between Inverness and Nairn and provide a new rail station, airport interchange and park-and-ride facilities at Dalcross. It has also identified a package of improvements to the Aberdeen - Inverness rail line which would reduce journey times between the two cities by 20 minutes and improve the connectivity of communities along the route.

So why is this local distributor road now referred to in the Monitoring Report?

This is a bit rich given that NPF is a National Strategy and the STPR informed the second NPF and the western end of the Link Road was not considered 'worthy'  of Government money as a 'Strategic road' in the STPR (and still isn't far as I am aware).