Proposals which could prevent further building on a controversial field near a historic battlefield have been given a cautious welcome by a local councillor.
Campaigners last night vowed to continue to fight a 16 house plan they fear will impinge on the emotive Culloden battlefield.
It has emerged that Inverness businessman David Sutherland has now bought Viewhill Farm from Inverness Properties, which has planning permission to build 16 houses on part of the site.
Mr Sutherland, however, apparently plans to continue with the new homes plan which are the subject of an ongoing campaign because of concerns that they will damage the integrity of the war grave.
Mr Sutherland, who is a former director of Inverness Properties, has said that he is willing to discuss the use of the remaining farmland with the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) who manage the battlefield.
One of the options might include the NTS buying the land from Mr Sutherland’s company, Home Farms, and leasing it back to the company for agricultural use.
It is understood that he has used the pasture at Viewhill as summer grazing, however, he has already lodged an application for road and 100sq ft parking area on the field.
Mr Sutherland said: “Being pragmatic, Home Farms are willing to talk to any interested parties at any time, including the National Trust for Scotland, on any aspect of our farming or development.”
A campaign group formed to fight the housing plans at Viewhill Farm said last night: “We wish to state that we remain 100% committed to our aim to stop the development of 16 houses at Viewhill Farm and that our campaign to stop this development will continue until this issue is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.”
Last night, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “I feel it’s only right to give Mr Sutherland the benefit of the doubt. Until he reveals his plans for the farm – which may include the NTS – it would be wrong to jump to conclusions.
“Mr Sutherland is a developer but has recently agreed to give a large amount of land over to the community for allotments for example. It is early days and this land is not zoned for development and its not likely it ever would be. Mr Sutherland is all to aware of the sensitivities around this ground. It may well work out in the NTS favour.”
The NTS said they had not been contacted by Mr Sutherland, but were happy to meet him to discuss his proposals.