New life breathed into Inverness funeral director's plans for additional site in Highland capital, after planning permission renewed
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LONG-gestating plans for a city funeral director to build an additional base in the Highland capital may soon go ahead.
John Fraser & Son, who are based on Chapel Street in Inverness and Lovat House in Dingwall High Street, secured permission in 2019 to build a new third site next to the city's southern distributor road in Culduthel Avenue.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the start of work on the site, and the funeral home has now successfully renewed its permission after the original one timed out.
News that the company has sought and been granted permission on the renewal permit looks set to breathe fresh life into the expansion plans.
And, in a statement submitted alongside the renewal application, the funeral home's agents Ness Planning confirmed that the business "wishes to proceed".
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If it is built, the new site will be constructed on open land immediately to the west of the new building that houses Highland Vet Referrals and Shakes 'n' Cakes.
In their design statement submitted as part of the application, Ness Planning said: "The original planning permission was granted in 2019. The permission has not been implemented. This reflects the difficulties encountered by businesses during the pandemic and the constraints to enabling construction on site that it placed on the delivery of projects.
"The applicant wishes to proceed with the development, but requires additional time to implement the proposal, acknowledging that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the business due in part to the scale of funerals that were permitted.
"The proposal is considered a component part of the existing business and, as previously, takes into account the expanding residential areas nearby and increasing demand for these facilities to be locally based.
"The application details are unaltered from the previously approved scheme and continue to seek permission for a development located on land at Culduthel Avenue. The only relevant change in the intervening period relates to the recent completion of the commercial development that abuts the site to the east.
"The proposal therefore seeks renewal of the permission that proposed a development comprising a bespoke funeral home incorporating ‘front of house’ facilities including reception, two arrangement/client meeting rooms, two viewing rooms, coffin/casket display area together with the more functional facilities associated with a funeral undertaker. In addition, ancillary staff facilities will be provided."
Granting approval under delegated powers, Highland Council planners said: "The proposal renews a previously granted development. There are no policy changes which would alter the previous recommendation, therefore subject to the same conditions as [the original application] the proposal can be supported.
