Highland Council extends the deadline for Ross-shire residents to comment on new Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan document until 5pm on Friday April 30
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Highland Council, in response to several requests by community groups and others, has decided to extend the deadline for views on the new Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan.
The authority has thanked all those who have already commented and announced that anyone who would like to add their responses now has until 5pm on Friday, April 30.
Scott Dalgarno, from the council’s development plans team said: "We recognise the pandemic’s impact on how and when people can comment and that an online only consultation has presented challenges for some.
"We are therefore allowing people more time to consider this important document and make their views known."
For those yet to read the initial consultative document, which is called the Main Issues Report, it can be accessed online here.
Those not online in any way can find out more and lodge a paper copy comment by phoning 01349 886608. The report seeks opinions on how the council should best tackle the most important issues facing the future development of the Inner Moray Firth.
The report sets out possible ways of delivering more affordable housing, directing development to more sustainable places, better matching infrastructure network capacity and new development, such as schools), and making sure that larger developers address the need for self build and genuinely wheelchair liveable accommodation for the disabled and ageing population.
For example, the document suggests that within the city of Inverness that developers provide 35 per cent, instead of the current 25 per cent, of their sites for affordable housing. It also suggests that a higher proportion of future building should happen in the biggest, best connected places and a lower proportion in the countryside and smallest villages.
The document further proposes that fewer but more viable sites are earmarked for future building and by viable it means economic for the builder to build but also for the public sector to support that new development with adequate roads, schools, refuse collection and alike.
These are the council’s initial ideas but it is also asking what others think.
