Inverness Longman estate Industrial units plan approved by Highland Council despite site flooding concerns
Plans to transform the former base of a landscaping business into a hub for five industrial units has been given the green light - despite flooding concerns.
Applicants Spey Valley Hire Centre intend to build the new units on the former base of Brandon Landscaping & Fencing, which was located at 17 Longman Drive in Inverness before relocating to Kirkhill last year.
After the landscaping business moved out of the Longman site an application was approved to demolish the existing buildings, after Spey Valley Hire Centre successfully argued that they were outdated.
Following the demolition order, a later application was submitted to erect a large building providing space for five business units with a combined floor space of more than 850 square metres - of which 837 square metres would be lettable.
The footprint of the site would also be extended southward, with the additional space freed up providing sufficient room for five new storage compounds, which are subject to a separate warrant application.
Drawings submitted with the application also showed space for 27 car parking spots in front of the units, a loading/unloading area, and a turning circle large enough for articulated lorries.
The hub, which could accommodate a range of different business types - including potential offices, research and development, light or general industry, and storage or distribution - now has permission to go ahead.
However, the approval came despite flooding concerns raised by council officers. They had highlighted the flood risk of the site, but following discussions, dropped an initial objection as the new development would not make the location any more prone to flooding than it already was.
In their report approving the application, Highland Council planning officers explained: “Following protracted discussions and submission of revised details, the initial objection by the [council’s] flood risk management team on drainage grounds has been resolved.
“It is noted that the site is at risk of flooding, and that such a flooding event could be significant. However, it has been agreed between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), flood risk management team and the case officer that the vulnerability of the site will not be increased as a result of the proposal.”
They added that details of the “potential consequences of a serious flooding event” had been added to their report to raise awareness of the specific risk, and added that a condition had been attached to the planning permission “requiring the building to feature flood resistant and resilient materials, in accordance with advice from Sepa and as referenced in the applicant’s previously submitted flood risk statement”. Sepa also recommended that flood resistant and resilient building materials be used in the construction.
Elsewhere, the report added that the estate strategy team supported the application "as there is a lack of new units and sites of this size coming to the market".
Find out more about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.
