Proposed house in Conon Bridge to be decided by members Highland Council's North Planning Applications Committee on Tuesday – the plan has been recommended for approval despite a number of objections from neighbours
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A new house could be built on the Black Isle as long as a developer contribution to benefit the wider community is agreed.
Ewen Ross has applied to Highland Council to construct the property on land 50m north east of Grianan Brae of Kinkell, in Conon Bridge, and the application has been recommended for approval as long as the agreement can be reached.
However there have been a number of objections from neighbouring residents relating to the proposed development relating to a number of trees and shrubs in the area as well as a loss of amenity.
According to the planning report, which will be presented to members of the council's North Planning Applications Committee at a meeting on Tuesday, the application is for planning permission in principle and added: "No details of the proposed house design have been submitted. The application is accompanied by an indicative site layout plan.
"The site has a frontage onto a communal driveway that serves four houses. The junction of the private driveway and public road lies 75m approximately to the east of the site boundary."
The site extends to 0.21 hectares and consists of an area of vacant ground which is situated among a group of four houses. The report added: "It is located on the northern side of a private driveway between two existing houses. The northern part of the site is covered with gorse and a variety of trees and bushes whilst the area closest to the driveway and the property to the west is mown grass.
"An informal path runs the length of the eastern boundary and links the group of four houses with another group of four houses that lies to the north."
As well as the objections from local residents Ferintosh Community Council has also objected to the proposal on the grounds that the perceived need for amenity in 2000 was any weaker in the planning guidelines in 2021.
Scottish Water and the Transport Planning Team both raised no objections as did SEPA – however the organisation noted that the site lies in an area which contained poor ground condition and limited public sewer which may require additional treatment.
The report concluded that the proposed development could be considered to be "rounding off a housing group" because there were more than three detached houses which had a perceptible relationship with one another and shared "a well-defined, cohesive character".
It added: "The site therefore lies within a housing group. The erection of a single house in this location will reflect and respect the character, cohesiveness, spacing and amenity of the existing group and the individual houses within the group.
"Although it is likely that some of the trees within the site will be removed, the development is not considered to affect an area of substantial woodland. The proposals do not represent ribbon development along a public road or an inappropriate intrusion into a previously undeveloped field."
After taking into account all relevant matters into account when appraising the application the report considered that the proposal was in accord with the principles and policies contained within the council's development plan and added: "It is acceptable in terms of all other applicable material considerations."
