Bosses at a business park have voiced concern after plans emerged to build a new road just yards from their offices.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) wants permission to create the route over the railway to link the Inverness Campus to the city’s main retail park.
But the new road would mean altering the landscape beside several buildings at Stoneyfield Business Park.
One company boss expressed frustration because the original plans for the route, which would be used by buses accessing the campus, showed that it would be much further away.
The application is part of the phased delivery of the overall Inverness UHI campus development, which secured planning permission in principle in 2011.
The new bus and cycle route would go directly behind an architects’ and planning consultants’ premises and an accountancy firm’s office in Willow House, as well as a dentist’s surgery and the Press and Journal office.
Among the concerns raised are noise impact during construction, the removal of trees and an earth bund which would reduce privacy and amenity, as well as the impact on the local wildlife habitat.
Yesterday, Gary Johnston, managing director of G H Johnston Building Consultants, said he planned to object to the application.
He added: “We are very much in support of the university and the benefits it has brought to the area and the Highlands and we want to see it progress with the link road through. But we feel there should be more consideration given to people outside the campus site.
“They made a huge effort with their own amenities and water features but this should not be at the expense of taking out adjoining landscape features beside other properties. They should be able to move it further away from so we don’t lose the earth bund and the trees.”
Dentist Jamie McKay, who works at the adjacent Hazel House practice, was more welcoming of the development.
He said: “It will improve access for people who get the bus to the business park as they will be able to stop off here, rather than get off at the retail park. And it will encourage us to walk to the retail park more often.
“I suppose losing the trees is a shame as it will spoil our view, but as long as it is done in a way which is sensitive to the environment then I would be ok with it.”
Ruaraidh Macneil, HIE’s project director for Inverness Campus, said: “This is about improving public transport links in and out of Inverness Campus. The original plan was to have the route further to the south.
“This has been revised after more detailed design analysis and taking account of the requirements of the landowner over whose land the route will sit. We will also liaise with planners on developing a sympathetic landscaping scheme.”
