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Fears ignored for diner plan





There are plans to replace shop space at Inverness' biggest retail aprk
There are plans to replace shop space at Inverness' biggest retail aprk

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to replace shop space at Inverness’s biggest retail park with three new restaurants is set to be approved – despite fears it could damage city centre trade.

The £13 million proposal also includes reconfiguring the existing complicated car park and providing more pedestrian-friendly areas.

Some councillors and Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid) have argued that plans to bring Nando’s, Frankie and Benny’s and TGI Fridays to the major centre off the A96 road to Nairn should be blocked to protect the city centre.

Two previous attempts to bring restaurants there were rejected by councillors.

Hercules Unit Trust, which operates Inverness Shopping Park, is hoping to open the restaurants on the site which formerly housed Comet.

Inverness Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stewart Nicol believes that not going ahead with the restaurants would send out the wrong message, and Scottish Council for Development and Industry regional director Fraser Grieve has also supported the plans.

But Bid manager Mike Smith, whose organisation represents more than 850 city centre businesses, maintains the restaurant development would seriously damage the city centre.

He said: "From our knowledge of the hospitality economy in Inverness city centre, we consider that if this application is granted it would be extremely detrimental to the hospitality businesses operating in the city centre.

"Such an effect would be against the planning policy adopted by Highland Council to support city centres."

He added: "Despite what is quoted in the developers’ planning statement, there are suitable sites in the city centre for these restaurants."

Supporters say proposals represent a long overdue improvement to the facilities at the retail park; will not conflict with the city centre and there are no suitable alternative sites for the restaurants in the city centre.

Those in favour also point out that the development of the UHI campus site and its future links with the retail park mean the time is right to expand restaurant provision.

Planning officer John Kelly, in his report to the committee, states that the retail park is a significant contributor to the local economy. There are also longer term objectives to improve connections with Inverness Campus.

He points out that the retail park began operating about 20 years ago, is beginning to show its age and is lacking in basic user amenities such as public toilets.

There is limited restaurant provision to serve the retail park and the units themselves are in need of modernisation. The current outdated layout of the car park is also focused too strongly on vehicle movement at the expense of safer pedestrian and cycle access.

Mr Kelly added: "The proposed customer hub building, changes to the configuration of the car park and refurbishment of the existing retail units will significantly enhance the visitor experience.

"The applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposed restaurant uses will not have a significant impact on the vitality and viability of the city centre and that ...there are no suitable alternative sites readily available in the city centre which would meet the operational requirements of the proposed restaurant operators."


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