Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the South Planning Applications Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on 2 April 2025 at 9.30 am. 

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. For those participating remotely, please remain on camera and advise the Chair of any loss of connection, no matter how brief. 

Members are further reminded that while mobile devices, including mobile phones, can be used for following the agenda/reports and delivering speeches in the Chamber, they are not permitted to be used to participate in the meeting remotely as the screen is of insufficient size to consider the plans presented to you. In addition, mobile devices are not permitted to be used for any form of communication (text or social media post) during the meeting.

Yours faithfully 

Iain Meredith, Solicitor 
(for Chief Officer – Legal and 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 provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  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 the meeting of the South Planning Applications Committee held on 6 February 2025.

4.    Major Development Update
Iarrtasan Mòra

There is circulated Report No PLS/13/25 by the Area Planning Manager - South which, provides a summary of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination. 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:  Highlands & Islands Enterprise (25/00313/PAN) (PLS/14/25)
    Ward: 19
    Applicant: Highlands & Islands Enterprise  
    Site Address: Land 310M East of Inverness College UHI, 1 Inverness Campus Inverness.
    
    5.2 
    Description: Coire Glas Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme - Construction of a tunnel, tunnel portal and associated portal apron (tunnel inclusive of passing places, turning niches and      refuge areas) to accommodate the installation of 400kv export/import electricity cables to connect the Coire Glas generating station to the national grid, including new access     tracks, temporary compounds to be used during construction for welfare, parking, plant, materials storage and materials processing, ancillary buildings and spoil storage areas  (25/00618/PAN) (PLS/15/25)
    Ward: 11
    Applicant: Coire Glas Hydro Pumped Storage Limited 
    Site Address: Land Circa North of Kilfinnan Farm, Spean Bridge, PH34 4EB.

6.    Planning Applications to be Determined    
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

    There are circulated Reports Nos PLS/16/25 to PLS/22/25 by the Area Planning Manager - South which are as follows:-

    6.1  
    Applicant: SSE Electricity Sub Station  (24/03150/FUL) (PLS/16/25)
    Location: Auchterawe, Fort Augustus (Ward 12). 
    Nature of Development: Auchterawe Substation extension - comprising platform extension, erection of substation buildings, associated plant and infrastructure, associated ancillary      development, drainage infrastructure, temporary construction compound and laydown area(s).
    Recommendation: GRANT 

    This item will be subject to a predetermination hearing, the procedure for which is attached (pp.226-227)

    6.2  
    Applicant: Springfield Properties plc (21/04895/PIP) (PLS/17/25)
    Location: Land 160M North of Glenericht, Stratton Lodge, Inverness (Ward 17).
    Nature of Development: Residential development comprising up to 400 residential units and associated infrastructure.
    Recommendation: GRANT
     
    6.3 
    Applicant: Morar Catering (24/04876/FUL) (PLS/18/25)
    Location: Layby off A82, 600m North of Letterfinlay Lodge Hotel, Letterfinlay, Spean Bridge (Ward 11).
    Nature of Development: Continued siting of snack van.
         Recommendation: GRANT 
             
    6.4 
    Applicant: Space MGM LLP (24/03438/PIP) (PLS/19/25)
    Location: Land 125M SE of The Bungalow, Forres Road, Nairn (Ward 18).
    Nature of Development: Construction of 7no. starter industrial units (Class 5) and formation of access road.
    Recommendation: GRANT 
     
    6.5  
    Applicant: Shamrock Wellbeing (24/04408/FUL) (PLS/20/25)
    Location: Gun Lodge Hotel, High Street, Ardersier, IV2 7QB (Ward 17).
    Nature of Development: Alteration and extensions.
    Recommendation: GRANT 

    6.6  
    Applicant: Culduthel Woods Group (24/04228/FUL) (PLS/21/25)
    Location: Land 75M NE Of Culduthel Avenue, Inverness (Ward 15).
    Nature of Development: Entrance and path improvement works, pond habitat enhancement, stone walling, drainage works.
    Recommendation: GRANT 
     
    6.7  
    Applicant: Inverallan Church (25/00324/LBC) (PLS/22/25)
    Location: Inverallan Church, Grant Road, Grantown-On-Spey, PH26 3JH 
    (Ward 20).
    Nature of Development: Installation solar PV panels.
    Recommendation: REFUSE  
    
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: Jennie Slessor (PPA-270-2307) (24/01295/FUL)
    Location: Taigh Abhainn, Station Road, Carrbridge, PH23 3AL (Ward 20)
    Nature of Development:  Use of property as short term letting unit and house.  

    The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers to allow the appeal and grant planning permission subject to the condition listed at      the end of the decision notice. Attention is drawn to the two advisory notes at the end of the notice.