Nethy homes refused
21st November 2014
An application for 58 new houses in a Cairngorms National Park community has been refused by the Park Authority’s planning committee.
The development at Nethy Bridge was turned down at a meeting in Boat of Garten today (Friday 21 November) following a site visit by members this morning.
Inverness-based Argyll Developments (Scotland) Ltd had applied to build 58 homes on two sites just off the village’s School Road and at Craigmore Road.
The current application was submitted in 2013 but the sites have been contentious for some time and have a long and complex planning history.
Planning Officer Fiona Murphy outlined to members the reasons for her recommendation to refuse the application, including issues such as it failing to meet a number of the policies in the relevant development plans.
She said: “We have to take account of the fact that Scottish Government Reporter has recently recommended that the School Road site is deleted from the Local Development Plan completely. For that reason, along with concerns around the negative impacts of the proposals on ancient woodlands, recreation and amenity, I recommend members refuse this application.”
Planning Committee Convener Eleanor Mackintosh said: “This application certainly does have a complex history but regardless, there is no getting away from the fact that this development would have a significant negative impact on the natural heritage of the area. Nethy Bridge is a village that prides itself in its connection with nature and which boasts lots of wildlife on its doorstep.
“Today we have also approved changes to the new Local Development Plan allocating the Craigmore Road site for housing development. We will now work with the developers and the local community to see appropriate housing delivered on that site as soon as possible.”