Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, 25 January 2022 at 10.00 am.

You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

Members are reminded that during determination of any item before this Committee they must be present throughout the whole of that item in order to be entitled to participate.

Members are further reminded that mobile devices, including mobile phones, can be used for following the agenda/reports and delivering speeches but should not be used for any form of communication (text or tweet) during the meeting.

Yours faithfully

Karen Lyons, Principal Solicitor – Planning
(for Head of Corporate Governance)

1.  Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2.  Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.  Confirmation of Minutes 
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee held on 7 December 2022.

4.  Major Development Update 
Iarrtasan Mòra

There is circulated Report No PLN/001/22 (Plans pp 1 - 9) by the Acting Head of Development Management – Highland which, provides a summary of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination and identifies those proposed applications which have Proposal of Application Notice (PAN). The report also details progress on proposals submitted under S36 or S37 of the Electricity Act 1989 on which the Council is consulted.

The Committee is invited to note the current position of these applications.

5.  Major Developments – Pre-application consultations 
Leasachaidhean Mòra – Co-chomhairle Ro-iarrtais

5.1  Description: Creation of an energy storage facility with a capacity of up to 49.9 mW comprising up to 50 energy storage containers, control building, transformers, switchgear and ancillary infrastructure (21/05957/PAN) (PLN/002/22)
Ward: 2
Applicant: Whirlwind Energy Storage Ltd
Site Address: Land 295M South Of Mill House, Stainland, Thurso.

6.  Planning Applications to be Determined 
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

There are circulated Reports Nos PLN/003/22 to PLN/012/22 by the Acting Head of Development Management – Highland which are as follows:-

6.1 Applicant: Graham MacGregor Joinery Ltd (19/04687/FUL) (PLN/003/22)
Location: 3A Inchrory Drive, Business Park, Dingwall (Ward 8).
Nature of Development: Erection of office/workshop building.
Recommendation: Refuse. 

6.2  Applicant: Mr Archie and Mrs Sandra Macnab (20/04204/PIP) (PLN/004/22)
Location: Land 40 m West of Torwood, Blairninich, Strathpeffer (Ward 5).
Nature of Development: Erection of a house.
Recommendation: Refuse. 

6.3  Applicant: Fraser Electrical (21/01019/FUL) (PLN/005/22)
Location: Land 110 m NE of 3B Inchrory Drive, Business Park, Dingwall (Ward 8).
Nature of Development: Erection of commercial storage and office unit.
Recommendation: Refuse.  

 6.4  Applicant: Jacqueline Morrison (21/02619/FUL) (PLN/006/22)
Location: Land 185 m North of Unit 1C Market Place, Portree (Ward 10).
Nature of Development: Siting of a catering trailer.
Recommendation: Refuse.

6.5 Applicant: Margaret Grigor (21/02630/PIP) (PLN/007/22)
Location: Land to South of Roch-Ach, Cemetery Brae, Avoch (Ward 9).
Nature of Development: Erection of a house and formation of an access.
Recommendation: Grant.  

6.6 Applicant: Mr H Anderson (21/03429/FUL) (PLN/008/22)
Location: 312 Hilton, Dornoch (Ward 4).
Nature of Development: Siting of holiday letting unit.
Recommendation: Grant.  

6.7  Applicant: The Highland Council Housing (21/03683/PIP) (PLN/009/22)
Location: Land 370 m NE of Cromlet House, Cromlet Drive, Invergordon (Ward 6).
Nature of Development: Erection of 93 residential units, access roads, landscaping and ancillary infrastructure.
Recommendation: Grant.  

6.8  Applicant: The Highland Council Housing (21/03684/FUL) (PLN/010/22)
Location: Land 370 m NE of Cromlet House, Cromlet Drive, Invergordon (Ward 6).
Nature of Development: Residential development comprising 35 units, access, roads, landscaping and ancillary infrastructure (Phase 1 of Cromlet masterplan).
Recommendation: Grant.

6.9 Applicant: Scottish Mountaineering Club (21/04667/PIP) (PLN/011/22)
Location: Land 80 m NE of Dipin, Annat, Torridon (Ward 5).
Nature of Development: Erection of new bunkhouse and meeting area, with parking and drainage arrangements.
Recommendation: Grant.

6.10 Applicant: Mr G Andrew (21/04707/FUL) (PLN/012/22)
Location: Land 35 m SE of 56 Feddon Hill, Feddon Hill, Fortrose (Ward 9).
Nature of Development: Erection of house.
Recommendation: Grant.  

7.  Decision of Appeals to the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division
Co-dhùnadh mu Iarrtas do Bhuidheann-stiùiridh Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Lùth agus Atharrachadh Aimsir

7.1 Applicant:  Ms Eve Wilder (21/00246/ENF) (ENA-270-2038)
Location:  Land 90 m South West of Birchwood Lodge, Migdale, Bonar Bridge, IV24 3AR (Ward 1)
Nature of Enforcement:  the unauthorised erection of a dwelling house without the required planning permission.   

The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter to uphold the enforcement notice but allow the appeal to the extent that the terms of the notice have been varied by changing the time period for compliance to four months.

7.2  Applicant: Ross Lambie (20/04824/PIP) (PPA-270-2247)
Location: Land 70 m SW of Tigh Na Greine, Broadford IV49 9AS (Ward 10)
Nature of Development:  Planning permission in principle for a one and a half storey dwelling plot. 

The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers to allow the appeal and to grant planning permission in principle subject to the conditions stated in the determination notice.

7.3  Applicant:  Ross Lambie (20/04825/PIP) (PPA-270-2248)
Location: Land 90 metres SW of Tigh Na Greine, Broadford, IV49 9AS (Ward 10)
Nature of Development:  Planning permission in principle for a one and a half storey dwelling plot. 

The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers to allow the appeal and to grant planning permission in principle subject to the conditions stated in the determination notice.

7.4  Applicant: Ross Lambie (20/004826/PIP) (PPA-270-2249)
Location: Land 120 m SW of Tigh Na Greine, Broadford, IV49 9AS (Ward 10)
Nature of Development:  Planning permission in principle for a one and a half storey dwelling plot . 

The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers to allow the appeal and to grant planning permission in principle subject to the conditions stated in the determination notice.

7.5  Applicant:  Energiekontor UK Ltd (20/00584/FUL) (PPA-270-2250)
Location:  Land at Torr Leathann, Strathrory, Ardross, Alness, IV17 0YD (Ward 6).
Nature of Development:  Erection and operation of a wind farm for a period of 35 years, comprising of 7 wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 149.9 metres, access tracks, borrow pit, substation, control building and ancillary infrastructure. 

The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter to allow the appeal and to grant planning permission subject to the conditions listed in the decision notice.  To save resources, a copy of the decision notice is enclosed with the email notification of the agenda and can also be accessed using the eplanning search facility for application ref: 20/00584/FUL https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/ (external link).