Major Evanton development gets nodded through
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE go-ahead this week for 160 new homes in an Easter Ross community has been hailed a major breakthrough for Ross-shire.
Councillors unanimously approved the development by Makar on the north-east edge of Evanton this week.
Highland Council’s north planning applications committee was also alerted to future proposals by the Highland Housing Alliance to build another 150 homes at Teandallon, on the western edge of the village.
The Makar homes, to be built near Culcairn Farmhouse, have been described as a "sustainable extension" to Evanton and will be built in phases over 10 years, along with new business and community facilities.
Local MSP Gail Ross welcomed the go-ahead: "I’m delighted to see that this development has been given approval by the committee. The need for housing is becoming more and more vital for our rural highland economy, with many businesses and community organisations being stifled at present because of the lack of appropriate housing.
"This development will have a minimum of 25 per cent affordable housing, crucial to supporting the entire community. I’m also delighted to see that this development will include allotments, a valuable community asset."
The development will be a mix of timber-clad detached, semi-detached and terraced homes, as well as town houses.
Committee chairwoman and Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith said: "While I welcome a lot of houses, we need to consider the people who already live there. The access is not the best for a new estate.
"We need to consider the cumulative impact of the two developments on the A9 because of the junction there which is already a problem."
Fellow Cromarty councillor Mike Finlayson said: "The major issues will be infrastructure and access to and from the site, as well as the number of pupils who will be going to the school."
As a proposal of application, details of the housing alliance proposal are not yet known.
A report for Makar’s application said the development had been deemed acceptable during a transport planning assessment and that developer contributions will be taken to build two extensions on to Kiltearn school, which is currently at 89 per cent capacity.
Dingwall and Seaforth councillor Angela MacLean said: "I’m a bit concerned that this will be overwhelming for the community.
"It’s an awful lot of houses so I’m pleased to see it will be over 10 years because I’m concerned that we could be building a lot of houses but without the facilities for the people living in them because that has happened before. It’s going to completely change the village but the houses are needed."
As well as coughing up £1600 per home for the school extensions, developers have been asked to pay a further £810 per home for improve current leisure facilities or build new ones.
While welcoming the new homes, MSP Gail Ross added: "I will be writing today to Transport Scotland to ask that they undertake a full investigation of the impact of this development for the A9 and its junctions.
"Realistically public transport is not a viable alternative to the car at all times in the highlands and I would like reassurance that junctions on and off the A9 will be future proofed for this and other developments within Evanton."
Welcome development? Share your views by emailing us as newsdesk@spp-group.com
