Nairn industrial units decision due
A controversial plan to build several industrial units on land near the A96 to the east side of Nairn is set to go in front of councillors.
Highland Council’s south planning applications committee will decide on Wednesday whether to give the green light to the bid to erect seven industrial units on land near the Balmakeith Industrial Estate, with planners recommending the application is granted.
However the move by developer Space MGM, an Inverness-based company, has sparked debate among the local community.
While some members of the public have welcomed the proposal as providing what they say is much-needed space for smaller businesses to operate from, others strongly oppose the development, saying it would lead to the loss of a designated green space.
A public consultation which closed in January saw 21 public comments submitted, 12 in support of the plans and nine against the development.
Objections have also been raised by Nairn River Community Council and by the council’s own flood management team - though the latter was withdrawn in January.
The report by the area planning manager in favour of granting approval states: “The proposal would provide a relatively modestly sized extension to the existing industrial and business estate at Balmakeith on the eastern side of the town, taking advantage of the already established connectivity to the A96.
“Although the detail of the layout and buildings has not been presented in this application, the indicative layout suggests that the units would be relatively modest in size and would be suitable for small businesses and cater for an existing demand for this within the area. This would therefore help to sustain and consolidate existing businesses and provide opportunities for new businesses to develop from.”
It also states that the overall nature and scale of the proposal is considered to be compatible with the surrounding area and according to placemaking priorities set out in the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2 (IMFLDP2) - particularly given its “close functional relationship” to Balmakeith Industrial Estate.
In this sense, it says, the development would strengthen the local economy and “increase local employment opportunities by supporting suitable new sites to enable further growth”.
Also, while acknowledging that the land has “localised value as a green space”, as set out in the Nairnshire Local Place Plan recently published by Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE), the site does not have any associated statutory natural heritage designations.
“Although identified as being part of the local green network in IMFLDP2, this does not preclude development of the site,” the report states.
“Development of the site for industrial and business use will impact on this space and result in a loss of some trees although sufficient space remains to provide an opportunity to enhance biodiversity through new and additional tree planting.”
It also states that the overall level of additional noise would be limited due to the location of the site, which is next to the busy A96 and in close proximity to the industrial estate.
The position of the planner is to recommend granting the application with a number of conditions, among which are the submission of a detailed layout of the site and details of the design and external appearance of the proposed development along with a landscaping and maintenance plan plus details of access and parking arrangements, details of the proposed water supply, foul and surface water drainage arrangements, and details of tree protection measures.
The proposed access for vehicles is also required to remain private, whilst the developer is asked to undertake upgrading works of the existing footway at the site.
Other requirements are aimed at the protection of biodiversity and trees on the site.
