Plans to build 22 new homes are poised to progress at two separate sites in a Highland village.
Local authority officials have given the go ahead for eight semi-detached, two-storey houses at the western end of the Maltings development in Muir of Ord.
And at the same time a planning application has been lodged for 14 semi-detached houses on two acres of land by Balvaird Road in Muir Of Ord.
Dingwall-based developer Glen Homes (Scotland) Ltd plans for the Maltings site represent one of the last sections of a 100-home development which is still to be built.
The original planning permission for this site proposed two blocks of flats in the location, providing 12 homes.
Approving the scaled-down proposal under delegated powers, officials said: “The proposed development is located on a site allocated for residential development within the adopted development plan where development is now close to completion on the wider site.
“The proposed houses are of fairly traditional design complementing the adjacent houses whilst the step in finished floor levels adds welcome variety to the appearance of the street scene and mirrors the houses across the road.”
The separate proposals for 14 semi-detached houses, lodged on behalf of the 3A Partnership, are also revised from a previous plan approved for eight detached homes at the site.
In supporting documents submitted with the application, the developer outlined why the decision was taken to change the proposal.
“At present, the combination of significant off-site on-costs in infrastructure and developer contributions; constraints on the likely rate of take-up of new accommodation and economies of scale essential to site servicing; and the availability of houses of similar size and market appeal at other locations in Muir of Ord, indicates that this proposal is not cost-effective at this time,” it said.
The scheme has been reconfigured in a similar cul-de-sac layout as was previously proposed.
A decision on the development will be made by the local planning authority in the coming months.
