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Alness fisherman ‘delighted’ to have 20 new Culbokie homes approved





Culbokie development site. Image: Google Maps.
Culbokie development site. Image: Google Maps.

TWENTY new homes have been approved for a growing village on the Black Isle after getting the go-ahead from councillors.

The plans were discussed at the north planning meeting at Highland Council.

The newly granted development will extend the village of Culbokie.

The planning documents show there will be a variety of detached, semi-detached and terraced housing built on the site.

In order to achieve planning permission, the developer will have to meet several terms identified in the council’s report.

These include a £20,000 contribution towards community facilities, an additional £15,000 towards off site works on the nearby B9169 and at least five of the units are required to be ‘dedicated affordable housing.’

Councillor Maureen Ross: Welcomed development.
Councillor Maureen Ross: Welcomed development.

Councillor Maureen Ross said: “I welcome this development at Culbokie. It looks really good.”

She also supported the mix of two- to four-bedroom houses proposed in the planning documents.

Councillors were mainly in support of the development, but there were some concerns raised.

Councillor Matthew Reiss said: “In general terms, it seems like a logical extension of the village.”

He raised his concerns over the sustainability of LED streetlighting citing its effect on tree leaf growth.

Councillor Richard Gale questioned if the development was aligned with the most recent national planning framework but was reassured that it met the conditions on sustainable development.

Councillor Angela MacLean.
Councillor Angela MacLean.

Councillor Angela MacLean raised the Black Isle local place plan, and asked if the local community had been consulted on developments they’d like to see.

There will be a development commitment to maintain green spaces around the houses with sustainable drainage systems and the planting of native plant species.

Councillor Sarah Atkin: ‘100 per cent signed up to this.’
Councillor Sarah Atkin: ‘100 per cent signed up to this.’

Councillor Sarah Atkin said: “I’m 100 per cent signed up to this.”

Councillor Ruraidh Stewart said: “I think this is quite a good development. It’s got a lot of potential.”

He added with Highland Council declaring a ‘housing challenge’ in the region it is important to build pace on house building.

David Skea, who bought the site in 2015, said he is “very pleased that it has gone through”.

“We’re pleased with the conclusions of the case officer and that the elected members were able to support it.

“We’re looking forward to progressing with a detailed design and development of the site.”

Mr Skea said: “We had assessed the shortage of housing the green freeport had identified.”

The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport is a UK government plan to open up trade as part of a ‘post-Brexit economic growth strategy’.

Mr Skea’s plans were originally submitted last year.

However, this is a site that has been earmarked for development for a number of years.

Attempts to achieve permission for ten houses back in January 2008, and fourteen houses in 2012 had failed.

The site was left and has since become overgrown.


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