Rita Campbell
Plans have been submitted for a development of 60 new houses on a former Lochaber School site.
The project where the old Lochyside RC Primary School used to be situated is a partnership between Highland Council and Lochaber Housing Association (LHA).
It includes a mixture of affordable flats, bungalows and villas.
The original proposal was for up to 70 homes, but the plans were changed halfway through a public exhibition due to the strength of local feeling against the layout.
People living close to the site were concerned that the initial drawings showed the loss of a play park on Castle Drive and a bus stop on Kilmallie Road.
They also feared the proposed secondary access for the scheme through Castle Drive could create a rat run.
However, they plans were redrawn to resolve the issues highlighted. The secondary access to Castle Drive has now been omitted from the proposal.
Councillor Ben Thompson of the Caol and Mallaig ward said: “At Castle Drive there is an existing play space. The original plan had them building two houses on that playground. That was quite contentious.
“Luckily the architect and the developer did a good job of listening to the community. They got both barrels from the community at the first consultation. To give the architect their due, they went away and changed it.
“They are now building a larger playground next to the existing one, which will hopefully be good for lots of new families moving into the new development, should it be approved.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “Highland Council and Lochaber Housing Association have submitted a planning application for 60 new homes with associated services, roads and landscaping, including an amenity area with play park on the site of the former Lochyside Primary School.
“The proposed housing development is for a combination of two storey villas, bungalows and two and a half storey flats, with a mix of two, three and four bed dwellings.”
The layout of the site is designed to link into adjacent settlements and the new amenity area is a central focal point linking the new and existing homes.
