Highland councillors air concerns over Tulloch Homes plans for Inverness site
Roads and archaeology could be major challenges for the developers of a new housing estate in Inverness, Highland councillors have said.
Tulloch Homes has submitted a pre-application notice flagging up a vision for 1200 homes, shops, and a new primary school on 120 hectares of agricultural land at Druid Temple Farm and Welltown of Leys west of the A9.
The developers held a series of public consultation events earlier this month.
The area contains a large number of farm buildings and is currently marked as a non-preferred site in the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan.
Tulloch Homes has not yet provided detailed plans, but if approved the development would be one of the largest in Highland.
Council officers say Tulloch Homes has not yet sought pre-application advice on the development, but is expected to do so soon.
At this point in the planning process, councillors on the south planning applications committee were only asked to note the outline plan and ask questions.
However, members at a meeting last Thursday did take the opportunity to highlight what they see as the challenges of the site.
Councillor Denis Rixson said “There is significant archaeology in the area, which is part of Inverness castle land.”
He said some of the archaeology will date back to the 12th century, and advised that it is “in the developer’s best interests” to do any surveying well in advance.
Committee chairman Jimmy Gray agreed, saying the whole area was significant and would need expert attention.
Councillor Carolyn Caddick asked where the access road to the site will be, raising concerns about traffic bottlenecks in the area.
Council planners said the developer is looking at two access roads: one at the roundabout off Inshes Road and a second at the top of the Milton of Leys development.
They also said Tulloch Homes aims to provide a bus route through the site.
With plans now moving forward, Tulloch Homes has launched a website to keep the public up to date
