Council rejects plans to build student flats in Fort William
COUNCILLORS have rejected proposals to build more student accommodation in the centre of Fort William.
Members of the Highland Council south planning committee refused an application submitted by Cityheart Ltd to build a three-storey building within the grounds of the former St Mary’s RC Primary School which would house up to 40 students.
The residential block was to ease accommodation problems in the town after an increase in student numbers studying at the West Highland College UHI in recent years.
At the committee meeting on Tuesday, Lochaber councillor Andrew Baxter said the main issue with the proposals was that the height and mass of the building is inappropriate for the site and is ‘overbearing’ in relation to neighbouring houses.
He said: ‘We are talking about the development of what has been an empty playground. And within that empty playground the applicants have forced a substantial three-storey building.
‘I still fail to understand why they didn’t flip this development so the lower profile buildings were at the other end of the site with less impact on the neighbouring houses.’
Fellow Lochaber councillor Ben Thompson also had concerns about the size and position of the building, adding: ‘I am similarly minded that this building is particularly close to the neighbouring properties. The angling of one end of the building makes it clear that the applicant has tried to squeeze this building as close as possible to Invernevis Cottages.’
He continued: ‘I was one of the councillors who supported the principle of student accommodation on this site.
‘We do need student accommodation as soon as possible. I just wish they’d come up with a better design.’
The committee voted in favour of Mr Baxter’s motion to refuse the application on the grounds that the scale and position of the development is not acceptable in the context of the surrounding area, therefore having a detrimental impact on individual and community residential amenity. This decision comes after six councillors attended a site visit on Monday after the initial photographs submitted as part of the application were deemed to be inadequate.
Mr Baxter continued: ‘I know the applicants will be disappointed and will say I am scuppering a development which is much-needed, and I agree that it is. The principle of student accommodation on this site was supported by all seven Lochaber councillors and I still support the principle of it. But I think it can be better designed and better placed within this site.’
Councillor Ron MacWilliam supported the company’s proposals, but did have reservations, saying: ‘It does strike me that the building is very large and quite imposing where it is. I don’t think anyone would welcome a block of that size with 40 students in it.
‘However, is that really enough for us to object? All I would say to the committee is that I think there is some degree of validity in all that’s been said but to object at this stage seems to me rather extreme.’