'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."

HwLDP latest; More requests from Reporter

HwLDP Examination

See page here

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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Last night's flood meeting

Well, I attended the public meeting organised by Highland Council last night, it was held in the Theatre at Culloden school and lasted from 7.30 to 10.05 approx. The agenda was short and most of the time was given to questions and expressions of views from the assembled audience. People clearly had a lot of views to express.

JBA Consulting, "leaders in flood risk and environmental management", has been appointed by the Council and the area that they will be covering has expanded eastwards beyond the original Smithton, Culloden and Balloch areas through to Croy / Galcantray.

Further report from Courier on-line here and council's web pages here

There was, indeed, a very big turnout

The Inverness Courier web headline prediction:

"Big turnout predicted for Inverness Flood Meeting"

Was indeed accurate; it was one of the most well attended meetings APTSec has been present at. The theatre at Culloden School was around 2/3 full by my estimation.

More detailed report later.

Hearing for Issues 17,18,and 86

All those with interest in development in the A96 Corridor particularly Nairn should put the 27th and 28th September in their diaries as there is to be a hearing.

More details later

(Meeting will be held in meeting room in Eden Court Theatre)

Consideration of CMT Plans at Delnies

Site visit confirmed for 30th August 2011

Latest on Second National Planning Framework Action Programme

Why not browse and then comment?

See here

Local Review Bodies should take 'de novo' approach'

"The consideration of an application by an LRB is in effect consideration of an application

by the planning authority and should be treated accordingly. The Scottish Government

therefore considers that, based on the above argument, the ‘de novo’ approach should

be adopted in determining cases brought before LRBs..."

Letter from Chief Planner here

Wider Planning for an ageing population

Latest News July 2011

As part of the follow-up to the Wider Planning for an Ageing Population report, a national strategy for housing for older people is being prepared. The draft strategy is now available for consultation.

Wider Planning for an Ageing Population

The Scottish Government is committed to enabling older people to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible. This means working to ensure that, whether they live in mainstream or specialist housing, older people live in homes which are safe and secure and, where necessary, adapted to meet mobility needs. With substantial increases forecast in the number of people over 60, this has implications for the provision of housing and support services, as financial pressures grow.

More here

Mediation

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Mediation is a process, involving a neutral, independent, trained facilitator. A mediator assists parties with differences to communicate effectively, understand the underlying issues, assess risk and consider options to enable them to resolve their differences.

There has been a growing interest in the application of mediation in a planning context. In 2008 the Scottish Government, as part of a wide ranging reform of the planning system, commissioned a users guide to assist those with an interest in its application in this context.

During 2010, the Scottish Government commissioned a qualified and experienced mediator to provide mediation support in three individual planning disputes and invited participants making use of mediation to take part in this study. The pilot project outputs are:

• an output paper setting out the findings of the pilot project;
• and the three case study evaluations.

An Outline for Potential Participants is also available.

Ever wondered what goes on in Government?

Placements in Directorate for the Built Environment : DBE will be hosting more 2 day sessions to help stakeholders gain a better understanding of the role of the Scottish Government in planning. Further information is available in an outline. If you are interested in attending please e-mail Angela Gray

There are also are a whole raft of presentations here