Outrage as Culloden homes plan approved

A PLANNING application to build 16 houses at Culloden was yesterday given the go ahead – despite opposition claims that the site is a historic war grave.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) responded by saying the decision was the result of a flawed planning system.

Councillors on Highland Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure (EDI) committee gave the green light to the luxury homes at Viewhill Farm despite a campaign to protect the battlefield.

The site is within the boundary of the Culloden (Battlefield) Conservation Area and Historic Environment Scotland’s Inventory of Historic Battlefields.

Historians have claimed the 1746 Battle of Culloden was fought in part on the site, and soldiers are likely to be buried there.

The committee voted by 12 votes to eight in favour of grant-

‘Wrong decision in wrong place’

ing permission to developer Kirkwood Homes, based on a revision of its initial designs for the buildings.

They added that Highland Council was given ‘no choice’ but to approve the construction, despite the location being within a conservation zone and ‘the historic boundaries of one of the most pivotal battlefields in all of Scotland’s history’.

Diarmid Hearns, head of policy for NTS said: ‘The situation at Culloden perfectly illustrates that the balance between the rights of communities, the significance of national heritage and the profits of developers is out of kilter. This was the wrong decision in the wrong place.’

Tory Andrew Jarvie, who voted against the plans, said: ‘I’m bitterly disappointed. This was the final route of appeal.’