Objections grow over plans for flats in Inverness neighbourhood near flash flood hotspot
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Plans for flats close to a known flash flooding hotspot in Inverness have sparked an array of objections from the public.
Neighbours living in Scorguie raised the alarm earlier this month over plans by the Henderson Group for 12 flats on land sandwiched between Scorguie Road and the former Clachnaharry care home.
If approved, the flats - which would be split into three two-storey buildings - would be accessed via a new purpose-built junction on Scorguie Road.
And that access onto Scorguie Road’s slope sparked immediate concerns from neighbours, who warned water run-off from the new housing estate risks exacerbating a known flash flooding hotspot outside the Esso filling station at the junction of Scorguie Road and Clachnaharry Road.
READ MORE: Scorguie flats plan sparks flash flooding fears on busy Inverness roads
They also raised worries over loss of privacy due to the flats’ location looking down on properties in Clachnaharry Road, and added that the existing site is popular with wildlife and dog walkers.
And their concerns appear to be shared by others, with a number of objections having now been lodged on Highland Council’s planning portal.
Concerns raised range from the flood risk and overshadowing of neighbouring properties, to loss of biodiversity and the impact of the development on road safety.
On that latter point, objector Sandra Stone asked: "Approximately 30 years ago planning permission for dwellings was rejected for this site partly due to the dangerous access road being on a hill and a blind summit. What has changed in the last 30 years is a considerable increase in the volume of traffic!”
Moving on to flooding worries, she added: "We are also concerned with the flooding of water on Clachnaharry Road. If the development goes ahead on the proposed site we will lose a natural saturation point for rain water and as a result even more flooding on Clachnaharry Road would result.
Peter and Anglisse Addison meanwhile, said: “Highland Council are already aware that Clachnaharry Road regularly floods during periods of very heavy rain when at these times the flooding has extended beyond the petrol station one way and beyond 29 Clachnaharry Road in the opposite direction.
“Parts of the Scorguie Road drainage system flooded over as recently as February this year with multiple drain covers lifting up and water pouring out and down the hill onto Clachnaharry Road. We are very concerned therefore that the proposed development of this site will only additionally contribute to an increased risk of flooding.”
And Kathleen Whyte said: “My final issue is wildlife and tree preservation. This is a truly wonderful area for red squirrels, badgers (I have seen one), pine martens, roe deer. None of these animals will remain once construction of this size is undertaken. I consider it an absolute gift that we have so many protected spies living in our city. I would also be surprised if any of the protected trees are not damaged. This could be a fantastic area if just tidied up a little and following the government's tree planting initiative.”
At the time of writing, almost 20 lengthy objections had been raised by the public.
Some also took the developer to task, claiming they had already partly cleared some vegetation and small trees despite no decision on the housing having yet been made.
Henderson Group was approached for comment.
