A new £10 million housing and business park scheme planned for a Highland village has been given the green light on appeal to the Scottish Government.
Loch Ness Homes wants to build 80 affordable homes at Drumnadrochit, including 20 low-cost properties, a care home, shops, offices and land for a health centre
Located at Kilmore, the development is close to the local primary and secondary schools, Blairbeg Park, a public house, the bowling club, village hall, church, hotel and service station.
Cobbs Bakery, of Drumnadrochit, will move to larger premises on the site and will increase its staff from 30 to 50.
Loch Ness Homes appealed to the Scottish Government on the basis of the council’s non-determination of their application.
The local authority said it had to scrutinise the scheme because it was not consistent with the local development plan.
But the reporter Richard Hickman said a departure from the plan was justified and said that the change in the landscape was acceptable.
David Sutherland, managing director of Loch Ness Homes, said: “We are very pleased that this development, bringing much-needed jobs, economic activity and housing to the Glen Urquhart area, is now set to go ahead, with a £10 million inward investment.
“We had been frustrated at having spent more than £100,000 on studies and reports in connection with our application, without it going to the planning committee.
“This non-determination was despite indications that it enjoyed support with elected members.”
He added: “We now look forward to working in liaison with council officials to reach a Section 75 agreement relating to low-cost housing, a condition attached to the granting of our appeal.
“We see no difficulty in meeting the low-cost housing condition laid down. Indeed, that matches our own outlook for the homes element of the application.”