Homes plan to be lodged

Plans are on the brink of being lodged for the next phase of a controversial housing development in a south Inverness suburb.

Developers have submitted a revised proposal of application notice (Pan) for 67 affordable homes at a site in Slackbuie, near Asda.

The scheme has already proved contentious as the site was only zoned for 24 homes in the local plan but permission has already been granted in recent months for 142 houses, in two separate developments.

A local representative branded the latest proposal “very frustrating” last night amid concern about pressures on local schools and infrastructure.

In December, developer Redco submitted a Pan notice to build 80 homes at the site,

“This is unsustainable given school roll pressures”

prompting outrage because it meant that the land could soon feature 222 homes in an area envisaged for 24.

Redco has now joined forces with Robertson Partnership Homes and Caledonia Housing Association to submit a revised Pan for 67 homes as well as “community and commercial space to meet the needs of the local area”.

A community engagement event is due to be held by the developers next month.

Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans has previously raised concerns about the scale of the proposals.

Last night, he said: “Any community facilities would be welcomed but then again we don’t know what they are.

“That aside, it’s still unplanned for development and it’s unsustainable given the roll pressures in every school.”