Dingwall houses and flats development gets the go-ahead
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Dingwall is set to get dozens of new homes near Tulloch Castle.
Planning permission was granted for the Highland Housing Alliance to erect 14 homes and 20 flats on a gap site off St Andrews Road.
Though concerns about traffic volumes and loss of privacy for some local residents persist, the move was broadly welcomed by local councillors.
Perhaps the biggest impacts locally will be the creation two new distributor roads to serve the new homes.
The Dingwall North Distributor road will connect Old Evanton Road to Tulloch Castle Drive through the housing scheme.
That could herald a new a new bus route for the north of the town.
Dingwall Community Council welcomed the development, saying: “Overall we have no objections to the scheme.”
The completion of better pedestrian access was underlined as a positive but the community council did have some reservations.
They insisted Tulloch Castle Drive would need improvements to match the likely increase in traffic likely.
That would be even more important when a second link road is completed through to Chestnut Road at some time in the future.
They added: “We would also like to press the council for the completion of the Kinnairdie Link Road, which would relieve some of the traffic.”
The upsurge in new housing could increase pressure on local services so the developer will have to pay almost £320,000 towards local school expansion, the leisure centre and a park.
Privacy was the main sticking point for locals concerned about being overlooked by the new homes.
Planning team leader Julie Ferguson told the recent North Planning Committee: “Whilst the development will introduce change into the area it is not accepted that the impact upon privacy justifies resisting the proposal. This area has been allocated for development for many years, including when Carnegie Court was developed.”
Dingwall Councillor Margaret Paterson said: “I can fully understand people’s distress at losing privacy and their lovely views but there is no way we can resolve that because the area is zoned for housing.
“I do think the planning officer has gone a long way to try and resolve that to make sure they are not being overshadowed.
“Regarding the impact on Dingwall Academy and Dingwall Primary – I know there is a developer’s contribution as stated in the report, so we as councillors will have to keep on trying to get the funding.”
Cllr Angela Maclean said: "Margaret is right, there are lots of people looking for houses. I can understand the concerns with a number of objectors, particularly those who are living further down.
“And we have had issues of those living with flooding further down for years in Dingwall.
“I am pleased that there is going to be improvements to public transport because especially if you lived at Scott Crescent or Macbeth Court you couldn’t cut through a path – you had to come all the way round.”
Plan proposes new housing development in Dingwall
