Plea made to stop building so many ‘boxy’ houses in Cairngorms National Park
The go-ahead has been given to six homes in Kingussie which will be aimed at the starter housing market.
The properties in three blocks on land south of the town’s Kerrow Drive had been due to be made available as part of the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme.
But members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee were told Caledonia Housing Association is now unable to meet the funding requirements and has withdrawn the offer of funds.
The committee was informed at the latest meeting at Grantown headquarters that applicants Davall Developments were still very keen for the properties to go to those trying to get onto the local housing ladder.
However, they will be sold on the private market rather than being made available as affordable homes.
CNPA planning officer Emma Bryce told the committee: “The proposed houses will be designed as starter homes and specifically target at younger working people looking to get into the housing market.”
She added: “Not withstanding the Help to Buy scheme is now no longer available, it is anticipated these homes will be accessible to local working households.
“Additionally these houses fall within the short term let control area covering Badenoch and Strathspey and therefore will be subject to that additional protection.”
However, there was criticism of the design of the houses by one CNPA planning committee member.
Geva Blackett said: “All over Scotland there are hundreds and hundreds of boxes being erected and they have very little personality and let’s face it the Cairngorms have loads of personality.
“I am just wondering if we can influence this in any way perhaps put a large porch on the front or just something to make them look less boxy.”
Ms Bryce said she ‘totally understood’ the point but planning design was something very difficult for the CNPA to control other than in the case of conservation areas and listed buildings.
She responded: “This is a greenfield development site and has a variety of housing types around it and I do not think there would be a strong justification for us to try and exercise control beyond what we have here of standard housing type of relativelty sympathetic design and finish to be honest with you.
“It would not be appropriate to pursue significant changes to the design in this particular location.”
Committee member Bill Lobban backed the proposal saying: “Irrespective of whether you like the design or not, these homes are desperately needed.”
The six new homes are part of a wider site where the 25 per cent requirement of affordable homes has already been met by the developer.
The site comprises the southern most portion of 22 two-bedroom apartments nearing completion along with associated access, parking and landscaping
CNPA planning officer Colin Bryans has said in his report recommending approval: “In terms of dwelling houses, it is recognised that there is a disproportionately high number of larger detached houses within the national park which has resulted in housing stock that is does not satisfy local housing needs for smaller, more affordable family homes…
“The proposed development would introduce a more varied choice of smaller homes onto the site.”
He added: “Even without the first-time buyer assistance, these homes should be within the reach of many working households in the area.”
Images of the new homes can be seen via this link.
