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Highland Council approves plan for 155 new homes in south Inverness despite ongoing concerns about flooding


By Scott Maclennan

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Councillor Andrew Jarvie wanted more assurance there would not be knock effects that could cause flooding.
Councillor Andrew Jarvie wanted more assurance there would not be knock effects that could cause flooding.

A controversial planning application for 155 new homes in south Inverness has been approved at Highland Council despite ongoing concerns about flooding.

Previously the decision on whether to approve or reject the application was deferred by the south planning applications committee amid concerns about flooding and schools roles.

At the time developer Tulloch Homes called the move “counter-productive” saying the houses would help to alleviate flooding rather than make it worse and did not alter the application.

The issue of flooding sparked a lengthy discussion after officers were forced to go and research an answer regarding the flood plan following a question regarding the run off by Councillor Andrew Jarvie.

The staff maintained that they had approved the measures in place and were content that should any further issues arise through conditions imposed on the development.

But Inshes and Milton of Leys community council maintained their objections to the plan based on increased housing density, the site’s topography and drainage leading to increased flood risk and the loss of mature trees.

They also cited the impact on wildlife and disagree with the findings of the transport assessment and question the suitability of the main site access roundabout, lack of safe routes to schools and the general lack of supporting infrastructure.

“At what rate when it does begin will the water discharge from the wider network because it will.

“On basis of the information that is here there is still a large part that is lacking and I can’t say that I am content with what we have been presented with along with the officers explanation when it came that I suitably satisfied that this will not have an adverse impact, particularly downstream.

"The site itself is unlikely to flood due to these water courses, but the impact will be felt downstream and there already is an impact downstream.”

He went on to table an amendment to reject the application because he said it is not believed that the revised drainage and flood assessments are an accurate assessment or provide sufficient mitigation against flooding in regard to known downstream sensitivities.

However, no one seconded the amendment and the application was approved without a vote.


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