Housing estate land gift offer branded a 'diversion' by Invergordon group
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OFFERS to 'gift' unused land to the community at a controversial housing development are nothing more than a "diversion to focus on the wrong thing" and any such gesture is fruitless without including the open space earmarked for the homes.
That's the view of Save Our Green Space (Sogs), which has been campaigning for the rejection of controversial plans for 79 new homes on land on the outskirts of Invergordon.
Last week, the developer Capstone Construction – which is working on the site in partnership with Highland Council – went public with an offer to gift the land that will not otherwise be used for the housing. This would be mostly surrounding woodland, as the homes are being lined up for the open space on the site –although a number of trees on the fringes would be lost to accommodate some elements of the hosuing and its access road.
And Sogs argues that the loss of the open green space would ruin the tranquillity and nature of the surrounding woodland, and "must be stopped".
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Responding to the developer, Sogs insisted that the location "must remain untouched for the health and wellbeing of the community now and for future generations" arguing that the land is not even zoned for housing under the new local development plan – and only does in the one it is set to replace.
They also repeated earlier calls for housing to be built instead on some of Invergordon's many brownfield sites, arguing not only that this would help regenerate derelict parts of the area but also ensure that the town's limited public green open space is not lost.
Richard Cross, from Sogs, in a letter sent to the Ross-shire Journal, said: "Save Our Green Space takes the view that offering the woodland is a diversion to focus on the wrong thing.
"The developers in their recent article state that the site, defined as greenfield land, was zoned for development in the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan. What they don’t say is that this plan was from 2015 and allowed for a maximum of 30 houses on the site, not 79 [being proposed].
"They don’t say that updated planning policies since then place regeneration and development on brownfield sites as the overarching priority. What they also don’t say, is that the expected replacement Local Development Plan, which aligns with current planning policy, excludes the site from development altogether."
He continued: "The article references the need for housing. There is no dispute around this. What Sogs disputes, is where this housing should be located. Sites for hundreds of houses have already been identified for development in Invergordon. And these alternatives are closer to the town, in line with policy, on brownfield sites, support regeneration, take into account our current housing stock, and the Cromarty Firth’s recently secured freeport status and expected influx of skilled workers as a result.
"The developers make reference to protecting the woodland for future generations. Had this been a genuine concern, the development would not have been proposed.
"Woodland is impacted by the land surrounding it and ancient woodland and its environment is protected. It is inconceivable that a 79-house development, with 158 parking spaces, moving traffic, gardens, and widened and realigned roads, built on a small field in the middle of the woods, will not have a negative impact on the woodland and its ecological condition.
"The gift of the woodland to the community would be a great idea, but only if it comes with the open space as well. If the open space is lost, so is the beauty, peace and tranquillity that carries so much value for the health and wellbeing of the community and its visitors.
"The development must be stopped. With the advent of the green freeport status, it is time to focus on the regeneration of the town and uphold national and local planning policy that places protection of natural assets and regeneration of old at its core. As the community grows, so will the importance of our green space. It must remain untouched for the health and wellbeing of the community now and for future generations."
He closed by reminding the public that comments on the planning proposal remain open until January 5, and urged people to have their say. To comment, go to the Highland Council Planning Portal and search reference number 23/05466/FUL.
Replying to Mr Cross' concerns, Capstone Construction managing director Rhona Donnelly said the offer to gift the wood was made in response to local consultation.
“The offer to gift the ancient woodland to the local community was in response to concerns aired by the local community during the initial consultation period that the ancient woodland would not be preserved during the development and beyond," she said. "Capstone Construction would work with any group that wished to be involved to ensure that all future preservation efforts were fully supported.”
