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Plans approved for 38 new riverside flats in Inverness

The proposed site for the riverside flats. Picture by David Whittaker-Smith
The proposed site for the riverside flats. Picture by David Whittaker-Smith

Plans for 38 flats near the River Ness have been approved by Highland councillors.

Members of Highland Council’s south planning applications committee voted unanimously to approve the plans, which have been in development for more than five years.

The flats will be built on land at Thornbush Quay, off Anderson Street beside the river and will include a communal landscaped area.

The development will be built on former industrial land, which is owned by Gael Force Marine.

The plans for the flats have been lodged in the name of the marine equipment firm, after Albyn Housing Society withdrew from the project.

The plans were initially lodged in 2010 – and councillors first considered the development in May 2011 when it was deferred over flooding concerns.

An objection was lodged at the time by Sepa but this has since been withdrawn after the construction of the new flood defence wall.

And it was put back again earlier this year after Councillor Richard Laird asked for further consultation due to the length of time since the original application.

Merkinch Community Council responded with some concern about capacity at the area’s primary school and extra traffic on Anderson Street.

Speaking at the committee meeting this week, Mr Laird said that he “wholeheartedly” agreed with plans – but called for a new traffic survey to be carried out in the area.

He added: “It’s a tremendous opportunity to regenerate this industrial area of Merkinch.

“Thirty-eight new homes in Inverness is something I wholeheartedly agree with.”

Councillors agreed for the traffic survey to be carried out, with the opportunity for extra conditions to be imposed on the development depending on the outcome.

Councillor Donnie Kerr, Inverness Central, also lent his support to the project – but demanded a condition calling for at least four pieces of play equipment to be included as part of plans for the communal area.

He said: “We have seen these developments which go up as a play area but there’s never any play equipment.

“We need to make sure that doesn’t happen here.”

He added: “This is much needed housing in an area we need housing in.”