Housing and retail plans submitted in Inverness

Joint applicants Redco Slackbuie Ltd, Robertson Partnership Homes and Caledonia Housing Association, want to build the properties and five business or retail units in a field by Slackbuie Farm Road.A pedestrianised public square is envisioned as part of the plans and housing will branch off either side of a “spine street”, the Press & Journal reports.If approved, the development would form part of a new neighbourhood in the south of the city alongside a proposed 82-house development from Barratt North Scotland and a site where 60 homes and a restaurant are being built by Kirkwood Homes.A planning statement from developers aimed to ease fears of a shortage of education facilities by stating that this particular development will “not have a significant impact on the school roll”.The proposed neighbourhood at Slackbuie would contain 49 houses and 18 flats – classed as affordable – and five commercial units which would be non food, such as a hairdressers, pharmacy, dentist or offices.The statement adds that there is a particular need for affordable housing in Inverness, highlighting that the new development would provide 11 new one-bedroom flats in line with demand under the Highland Housing Strategy 2017-2022.