Community leaders object to expansion plans at out-of-town retail park at Inshes in Inverness as Aberdeen Standards Investments seeks extension to planning permission
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Developers behind expansion plans at an out-of-town retail park in Inverness have glossed over “manifest changes” since permission was first granted, community leaders are claiming.
Permission to develop shops, a public house and restaurant, community allotments plus car parking and new access roads next to Inshes retail park was granted in 2017 following a public inquiry.
Aberdeen Standard Investments is now seeking a three-year extension of planning permission in principle to enable further applications regarding conditions to be approved.
But Inshes and Milton of Leys Community Council has lodged an objection citing traffic concerns and potential for it to conflict with Inverness 2035, which sets out a vision for the city.
It echoes views by Highland Council’s development plans team which says the application should not be supported, while concerns have also been raised by the Eastgate Shopping Centre’s owners about the potential impact on the city centre which is still dealing with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In its objection, the community council states: “While once again accepting that this is an application for renewal of an existing PIP (Permission in Principle), the applicants gloss over the manifest changes since the granting of the initial consent.”
It says traffic volumes have changed significantly, citing the southern distributor road and congestion around drive-through sites at the retail park’s southern end.
The submission continues: “Further out-of-town development is at odds with the council’s aims to regenerate the city centre and likely to be in conflict with the 2035 Vision.
“A development of this type gives supremacy to the motor car and will encourage car use which is at odds with the active travel agenda of both the council and the Scottish Government which has progressed sensibly since the original application.”
The community council also believed the development would exacerbate existing transport and flood problems in the Inshes area.
A strongly-worded submission supporting the application has been lodged on behalf of Aberdeen Standard Investments stating assertions by council officers against the project are “unfounded”.
It maintains the retail warehouse market is buoyant and growing in the city and that the local authority has not addressed retail provision in Inverness.
It also contends the application is supported by council policies which support regeneration of Inshes and expansion of the retail park on to Dell of Inshes.
Expansion plans at out-of-town retail park described as 'inappropriate'
