Highland Council approves plans for 136 new homes in Inverness Ness-side

Highland Council has given the final nod of approval for 136 new homes to be built in Inverness Ness-side, despite the “unusual” application.

The decision to grant planning permission was made at a south planning meeting on Wednesday (June 17).

Developers Tulloch Homes and Barratt David Wilson North Scotland had submitted three separate planning applications to the Highland Council, all for development as part of the same housing estate near the Tesco supermarket on the road to Dores.

One was for 47 houses, the second for 45 houses and four flats and the third for 40 flats.

It was decided at the meeting that all three applications would be considered as one item, though not all councillors agreed with this.

Green councillor Chris Ballance (Aird and Loch Ness) said it seemed “inappropriate” to discuss all three together as he felt it went against planning rules and could lead to some affordable homes not being built.

The committee was told by officers that if the applicant had submitted all three applications as one, it would have been classed as a major development and would therefore have been subject to a public consultation process, as well as having to abide by stricter regulations.

Councillor Ballance’s concerns were shared by his area colleague Cllr David Fraser (Independent).

He said: “We do not like salami slicing.”

Although the pair did not have particular concerns about the application beyond the way it was presented, Cllr Fraser felt it was “really dangerous” to allow the applicant to separate them out in the way they had, as it could give the impression to other developers they could do the same.

They were advised by officers that although it was “unusual” it was allowed under planning regulations and the affordable homes would be guaranteed through a legal agreement.

This prompted an amendment to be tabled by Cllr Ballance for the council’s planning manager to write a letter explaining that the committee did not like “salami sliced” applications.

The agreed development will see a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, detached, semi-detached and terraced, to be constructed on land 290 metres west of the Tesco supermarket.

Affordable homes will make up 25% of the development, with the rest being for the private sector.