Dingwall housing estate set to be at heart of major revamp as masterplan lodged with Highland Council
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A major house-building project set to dramatically transform an area at the heart of Ross-shire's county town has taken a significant step forward after years of delay and neglect.
Highland Council is seeking planning approval in principle for its masterplan for the phased demolition then rebuilding of the Meiklefield area near Dingwall's town centre.
The plan is to tear down 114 old homes and replace them with 117 new social housing units set out in an estate where green aspirations will be to the fore with a vision of tree-lined streets, an emphasis on cycle and walking routes and grassy open areas.
The move comes after years of delay on houses regarded not fit for purpose and and at a time when hundreds of people are languishing on waiting lists for social housing.
The Ross-shire Journal instigated a campaign for action at the beginning of 2018 at a time when local activists decried homes going to rack and ruin while some people slept rough.
Under the proposals, every rear garden will have an appropriately scaled garden tree to contribute to the biodiversity of Meiklefield. The masterplan is now under consideration by planners.
The first phase, involving numbers 1 to 23 odd numbers in Meiklefield Road is well under way with any lessons learned from the work set to be adopted in the bigger project.
The masterplan approval will be another step forward for the project team tasked with creating modern, accessible, energy efficient and affordable housing estate in place of council houses deemed past their sell-by date.
The masterplan states: "While much of Meiklefield council housing stock is in poor or deteriorating condition, there are areas of environmental quality and mature trees which will be retained and enhanced where possible.
"The project will sequentially replace identified housing stock and seek to retain /enhance landscape quality.
"The project will seek to pragmatically address both the nature of post-Covid life, with an emphasis on greater localism, community engagement and healthy living, and the necessity to work towards a sustainable 'green' environment."
The document adds: "Where possible the overarching principle is to retain distinctive set-piece elements of landscape design such as the crescent of maturing trees at Millcraig Road and Meiklefield Road (Phases 3 and 4 respectively).
Highland Council is now inviting the public to an open information event regarding the Meiklefield redevelopment.
The event has been organised by the local housing team and will be attended by tenant participation staff and the designer, HRI Architects, who will be available on the day to speak face to face with the public.
Information will be available on the project and the opportunity to ask questions of the design team.
For further information contact the dedicated officer Faye Dyer either by phone 01349 886602 or by emailing meiklefield.matters@highland.gov.uk
A council statement on the project said: "Maintenance work to council stock uncovered age-related issues which will be costly to resolve across the volume of houses the council owns in Meiklefield. This prompted the programme of demolition and redevelopment of selected areas over a period of around five years."
It is anticipated there will be opportunity for private home owners to seek assistance with their own repairs during the project, and to benefit from the environmental improvements proposed.
Cllr Graham MacKenzie said Meiklefield "is a great community but sadly the houses don't match the strengths of this community", adding: "Many of the houses are in a bad condition with damp making life unbearable for many."
Cllr Margaret Paterson earlier hailed "a caring community". She said: "It will remain a special place for all the people who enjoyed living there. Some will return when the houses are rebuilt and new families will get the opportunity to live in a great area of Dingwall.”
