Community woodland gift pledge over 79-home Invergordon bid by Capstone Construction
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THE company behind plans for a new 79-home housing scheme in Easter Ross has pledged to protect ancient woodland by gifting it to a local group for community use.
Capstone Construction has tabled plans for what would be the first major bid for new housing in Invergordon since the Cromarty Firth secured freeport status.
Responding to concerns from a local group, the company says the site near Rosskeen on the northern edge of Invergordon will see protections in place with plans in place on how the woodland will be gifted to a local group for the community to enjoy in perpetuity.
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As part of the developers’ plans, another area of woodland on the site would also be improved for community use.
Capstone Construction and the Highland Council have submitted plans to build 79 new homes at the site near Rosskeen on the northern edge of Invergordon.
The development – which it says is to be sited on a virtually tree-free site extending to approximately 6.2 hectares – will comprise a combination of affordable housing and private dwellings as well as associated infrastructure and outdoor recreation areas.
The ramping up of activity at the Port of Nigg and Port of Cromarty Firth - as well as in the supply chain for the two industrial sites - resulting from freeport status is expected to lead to extensive job creation in the area, with the expected influx of skilled workers putting pressure on an already sparse Easter Ross housing stock.
Plans for the new housing west of Invergordon Golf Course - on land that is zoned for residential development in the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan - have been met with some opposition from a local community group seeking to protect the Easter Ross town’s green spaces.
Capstone Construction managing director, Rhona Donnelly, said: "Far from being at cross-purposes with opposers to our plans, we have actually gone to great lengths to make sure the surrounding woodland is not only safeguarded but has improved access for the local community.
"Our ultimate aim is to gift the ancient woodland to a local community group so that it will be protected for future generations, and we have reached out to Save Our Green Space (Invergordon) to explore the possibility of them forming the community company to take over the woodland.”
The developers plans for woodland neighbouring the new housing development will, kit says, see quality open spaces developed for the expansion of recreational pursuits for new and existing residents.
It says informal links will be provided from the developed neighbourhood areas to permeate into the woodland with active travel links for walking and cycling. Trim trails, features for natural play and outdoor gyms are among the facilities which could be created in already occurring clearings along these pathway links.
As part of their planning application, Capstone Construction says it is in the process of preparing a woodland management plan for the long term protection and enhancement of the area of ancient woodland to the north east of the site.
The plan will include works to improve biodiversity and foraging opportunities incorporating the recommendations in the ecology report of removing the rhododendron, felling/cutting of dead and dying trees and arranging on site for habitat, and new under planting.
It is the intention to explore this area for community ownership similar that in operation at nearby Evanton Community Woodland.
Another area of scheduled ancient woodland to the south of the site will also be subject to a woodland management plan for the long term protection and enhancement of this area.
It will incorporate planting to enhance the new path routes and recreational facilities that will be provided in this area. This area "will be more maintained and manicured for public use and enjoyment of outdoor activities".
A decision on Capstone Construction’s planning application is anticipated in March 2024.
