Major new housing development approved in principle for land between Balloch and Culloden in Inverness
Councillors unanimously approve planning in principle for a new development of 298 homes between Balloch and Culloden.
Highland Council’s south planning committee approged the plan despite severe criticism from city residents.
The development is on “windfall” farmland between Balloch and Culloden, and was approved despite dozens of objections from the public.
The application by the council is for a mix of affordable and private housing including housing for the elderly, low-cost ownership and mid-market rent housing.
The promise of land being allocated to expand Culloden Academy – which had its school roll capped, along with Lochardil Primary this week – and Balloch Primary which is groaning at the seams, helped sway councillors.
Councillor Carolyn Caddick said there had been portable classrooms in use at Culloden Academy for 14 years, and the sooner it was expanded the better.
The development will also help alleviate a chronic shortage of affordable homes in the Inverness area, it was said.
It will offer a “green heart” among the homes, with active transport links to nearby meadows and forests, community ownership of parks and forest, and land for allotments.
Councillor Roddy Balfour said: “It would be stupid not to take advantage of this land available for development. There was widespread criticism, but the community council, having been lukewarm, now support the application with some provisos. It can be the pride of the community and the pride of development east of Inverness.”
The community council wants ecology and archaeology surveys to be carried out, councillor Ben Thompson said the design would stand comparison with any other commercial housing that has come forward in that area recently.
Residents were concerned the land was not previously allocated for development and would impact on health, education, roads and leisure and make Balloch and Culloden into one community.
Councillor Duncan Macpherson queried the impact of more traffic using the Tower Road and Culloden Road junction, and was told that the development would yield money to put in traffic lights there and to extend a lower speed limit on the B9006 road.
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