Inverness funeral business seeks planning renewal for expansion after Covid delay
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AN Inverness funeral home business is pressing ahead with expansions plans that were hit by the Covid pandemic three years ago.
John Fraser and Son was previously granted planning permission in 2019 to build a new funeral home in Culduthel Avenue just off the Southern Distributor Road.
This would be in addition to the business’s current premises in Chapel Street in the city centre.
Owner Vicki Fraser has applied for that planning permission to be renewed.
The planning papers state: “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 development would comprise of front of house facilities, including a reception and two client meeting rooms.There would also be two viewing rooms and a coffin/casket display area.
The development did not include facilities for funeral services.
The papers continue: "The concept is to provide a facility for the bereaved which creates a peaceful and private environment in which to make the necessary arrangements. "The facility is specifically designed to offer the opportunity for relatives and friends to spend private time with the deceased within an environment that allows space for peaceful contemplation.
"To achieve this, two viewing rooms are proposed, each including a glazed area overlooking a designed private courtyard landscaped area.
"This approach is unique within the Highlands and the site has been selected because it offers the opportunity to locate within an attractive landscaped setting."
The application details are unaltered from the previously approved scheme. The only relevant change in the intervening period relates to the recent completion of a small commercial development to the east.
The building is contemporary in style and design and is a single storey building set into the landscape.
It incorporates a mix of roof lines and heights and will be finished in natural stone with profiled sheet metal to the roof areas.
