Highland Council lodges plans to turn former Inverness primary school into flats and houses
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Plans for a former school will help meet demand for new homes Highland Council says, but its proposals have drawn opposition from a neighbouring household.
Highland Council has outlined plans to turn Culcabock Child Guidance Centre into three flats, with three houses built on land beside the property.
The building in Culcabock Avenue is also used as a work and meeting place by psychologists and other childcare professionals in the city.
Officials have lodged a full planning application to transform the internal layout of the period building. The main living accommodation will be housed on the ground floor of the property, making use of existing double-height windows.
In a design statement, developers said: “We believe the location for new development is suitable as it would add to the current residential setting of Culcabock Avenue and add to the increased housing demand in the Inverness area while making use of an existing building.”
Three semi-detached and detached dwellings will also be built.
Inverness councillor Ian Brown said: “In the Millburn ward there is always a lack of housing as there wasn’t much space available for development. I am certainly pleased about this as social housing is always welcome. It doesn’t sound like there are too many houses for the road so the roads should be able to take it.”
The proposal drew one objection, from neighbouring residents Jill and Michael Meighan.
In a letter to the council, they said: “We strongly object to the proposal to build a large two-storey house in the car park directly opposite our cottage.
“The height of this house would be 7.65m, significantly higher than the adjacent properties, which are all traditional cottages.
“The windows at the front of our cottage are less than two-metres high, so the proposed house would significantly impact on our outlook, as well as creating a reduction in daylight and sunshine into our cottage and those of our neighbours.
“The design is incompatible with the surrounding cottages and out of character.”
The couple also raised concerns about the possible destruction of existing walls around the former school which they described as part of the character of the area, as well as “a small wildlife haven” within the old school garden.
