Planning permission being sought for more than 110 homes in Kingussie
Plans for more than 110 new homes in Kingussie have been lodged in the next phase of the town’s biggest ever housing development.
Aviemore-based Davall Developments are behind the plans for 108 homes and eight residential plots in the town.
The application submitted to Highland Council forms the third phase of plans for eventually up to 300 homes at the northern end of the Badenoch capital.
The 108 dwellings and associated infrastructure are proposed on land between Dunbarry Terrace and General Wades Military Road and eight residential plots are planned for land to the west by the town’s Ardbroilach Road.
The larger site comprises around 8.74 hectares of undeveloped arable agricultural land with ground levels rising gently toward the north.
The smaller site is around two hectares of undeveloped arable agricultural land.
There are seven housing designs including smaller semi-detached properties, large detached homes and bungalows.
An affordable housing development of 23 dwellings has recently been completed to the south-east of the site and a further 22 affordable houses are currently under construction by Kerrow Drive.
Planning agents NORR states in their design and access statement submitted to planners with the application: “The proposed residential development will comprise a mix of house types with associated residential streets, landscaping, and infrastructure…
“The site falls within the settlement development area of Kingussie with the exception of a small area on the eastern boundary, to the east of General Wades Military Road which will be developed for the SUDS.”
The current site access is via A86 and the recently completed affordable housing development, where the first section of the access road was constructed.
The land in between the two sites also has planning approval for a residential development. An access road will be constructed in-between.
The site is allocated for residential development in the adopted Cairngorm National Park Local Development Plan.
NORR state in their report: “The site identified as H1 has capacity for a phased development of 300 dwellings.”
A statutory public consultation exercise has already been carried out because of the scale of the housing development.
Two public consultations were held earlier this year - at the end of May and mid June - with the proposals on display and a design team member present to answer questions.
A total of 51 members of the public attended.
A dedicated website with a feedback page was also launched in May along with a maildrop with details of the proposals and the public consultations were delivered to more than 750 properties within 500 metres of the development sites
Concerns that have been raised include:
• homes will be used for second homes or short term lets and not go to local residents.
• The development will impact on existing open space and safe access paths to the local woods
• The last bit of green land around Kingussie will be lost.
• An increase in heavy traffic using Dunbarry Road and Kerrow Drive.
The agents point out in response that second homes and short term lets are not a design issue; the site is allocated for residential development in the adopted Cairngorm National Park Local Development Plan and Highland Council’s transport planning team will assess traffic flows.