DEVELOPMENT: Springfield Properties to ask residents for views on 650 home development plan for Granny Barbour Road site in Nairn East
Residents will be asked their views on a major housing proposal for the eastern fringes of Nairn this week.
The development for 650 homes will be one of the biggest undertaken in the town since the Lochloy development, if it goes ahead.
Nairn River Community Council is already preparing an objection to the bid by Springfield Properties for a mix of luxury and affordable homes on land at Balmakeith, Househill and Achnacloich.
Ideas for the development were revealed in the Courier in March.
While still at the concept stage, the developer has set aside land for education, community, retail, business and recreational uses.
But the community council fears there will be a lack of utilities and transport routes into the town.
With proposals still at a very early stage in the planning process, Springfield Properties is seeking feedback from residents at an online public meeting this Thursday. It wants to refine its plans by taking into account the needs of the community.
Dave Main, Springfield Properties managing director (north), said: “There is already a rich and thriving community in Nairn. It’s an attractive place to live and work, home to beautiful beaches, two championship golf courses, various leisure facilities and is well connected to the rest of the Highlands. Our proposals for Nairn East feed into this and showcase how we would like to create a truly sustainable neighbourhood within Nairn.
“We’ve made every effort to create a new place people want to live, with a linear park, community greens, allotments and play areas for children while incorporating viewpoints to iconic Nairn landmarks, like St Ninian’s Church, with walking and cycle paths throughout the development that feed into existing routes.
“The concept masterplan features around 650 homes, including affordable, and land allocated for a school and community facilities. We’ve also included land for business opportunities like local shops, hairdressers and nurseries so those in the area have everything they need within a short walk or cycle from their home.
“We’re keen to engage with the community and learn how we can inform these initial designs to develop our plans further.
“We want the designs for the development, especially the community areas, to be led by the people that will benefit from them and use them. This event will be the first of two online consultation events, with the second taking place on October 7, and we welcome those who wish to know more. As restrictions ease, we are exploring holding a face-to-face event in Nairn later in the year.”
The three sites total 250 acres and there will be immediate access to Granny Barbour and Grantown roads and links to the bypass.
Nairn River Community Council is calling for a local plan for Nairn to be developed prior to any major scheme.
The group stated: “The infrastructure in Nairn is already bursting at the seams. Traffic on the A96 is gridlocked and any bypass is years away, if ever. [We need to] fix the infrastructure first and future-proof Nairnshire for those who already live and work here before we build any more homes, let alone this number of properties that will ruin the environment further for everyone.”
More: www.springfield.co.uk/NairnEast
READ: Plans revealed for 650 new homes on fringes of Nairn
