Highland Council recommends planning approval for hugely controversial leisure development on the greater Culloden Battlefield in Inverness
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A WAR of words prompted by plans for a new holiday village near Culloden Battlefield is likely to intensify after Highland Council documents show it is being recommended for approval.
Inverness Paving wants to convert an equestrian centre at Treetop Stables on Culloden Moor into a leisure resort with 13 new holiday lodges, an on-site café or shop and a restaurant.
Concerns about the estimated £1 million development at Faebuie have been ongoing since an initial application was refused by council officers in May 2019.
At the time, they felt it failed to demonstrate that it would “preserve or enhance” the area of the battlefield, citing both the Highland-wide development plan and the Culloden Muir Conservation Area.
The new application has attracted 183 objections – more than twice as many as before – but it has been recommended for approval despite no significant alteration to the plans, just additional information from the company.
Among objectors were Croy and Culloden Moor and Balloch community councils, as well as the National Trust for Scotland.
But despite being sited on the so-called greater battlefield, in contrast to the smaller National Trust for Scotland site, the local authority’s Historic Environment Team (HET) had no objection.
While calling for further archaeological investigation, HET stated: “The proposal does not raise significant issues in conservation terms, and it is unlikely to affect the character or appearance of the conservation area.”
Historic Environment Scotland described the battlefield as “one of the most important battles in the history of the British Isles. Its aftermath transformed the Highlands, bringing to an end a traditional way of life and contributing to subsequent clearances.
“The proposed development site is on the east side of Culloden Moor. The east of the moor was in the path of the Government army as they advanced from Nairn and to the rear of their lines.”
Yet still felt that the new development would not change the “the character of this part of the battlefield or alter this area’s contribution to the wider battlefield landscape” because of existing infrastructure situated within the wooded setting.
John Kelly, area planning manager (south), stated: “In determining this application, the three most critical issues have been whether the development would adversely impact the character of the inventory battlefield; whether the development would preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area; and whether the proposals would adversely affect the integrity of the woodland within which the lodges would be located.
“It is acknowledged that previous breaches of planning control have occurred with the site boundary. While this is not condoned in any way by the council, the granting of planning permission would provide an opportunity to address these matters.”
If councillors give conditional approval of the plans next week, Scottish ministers will be told and they will decide whether to call it in for a final decision.
