Nairn bypass should be built before any more housing developments, say worried community leaders
No housing development should take place on the eastern outskirts of Nairn until adequate infrastructure is in place, including the proposed Nairn bypass.
That was the clear message from members of Nairn and Suburban Community Council when they discussed the controversial plan by developers Springfield.
The plans for 650 houses at Househill were exclusively revealed in the Inverness Courier earlier this year.
The developers said ground on the lower level at Househill, which historically is regarded as in a flood plain, would be available for parkland and leisure purposes.
But already residents at neighbouring Balmakeith Park, who have been blighted by flooding issues over several decades from the Auldearn burn which runs through the site, are preparing to oppose the scheme with some houses already posting signs against the plans.
They fear large-scale building in the area would only add to flooding and traffic problems.
Community councillor Brian Stewart said it was worrying indeed that Springfield was on record saying it would seek to develop some phases of the site ahead of the bypass.
He said the case for housing on that type of scale was not supported by the evidence he was aware of and Highland Council’s housing forecasts were unrealistically high.
Plans revealed for 650 new homes in Nairn