Beechwood Campus plans discussed on Tuesday

The masterplan and design guidelines for the new UHI Beechwood Campus will be considered by  The Highland Council’s Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications Committee on Tuesday (30th August).

This important development for Inverness and the Highlands was granted planning permission in principle in May 2011, and the current application arises from some of the conditions attached to that planning permission.  Most importantly, the conditions require the submission of a masterplan and design guidelines for the entire site which will set out the detailed layout, plot boundaries, proposed uses, access, car parking, a landscape framework, principal infrastructure provision and phasing of development plots. 

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has submitted the masterplan and design guidelines for consideration by the Council. 

Stuart Black, the Council’s Director of Planning and Development, said: “Given the recent press coverage in relation to the access arrangements for the Beechwood Campus, it is important to clarify the exact stage that we are at.  On Tuesday, the PAC is considering the masterplan and design guidelines as well as other conditions relating to drainage and water infrastructure, archaeology and trees.  The principle of the access arrangements has already been agreed last May at the time the Planning Permission in Principle was granted planning permission.  The detailed arrangements of the layouts for the road access at the A9 slip land and the Caulfield Road North junction will be the subject of a future "matters specified in conditions" application – as HIE are required to submit these details under Condition 17 of the Planning Permission in Principle.

“In the meantime, the Council is happy to work with Highlands and Islands Enterprise in arranging and attending a plenary session with the local Community Councils and Transport Scotland to discuss the detailed arrangements that are likely to be submitted in the next few weeks. 

“It is clear that there are medium and long term solutions to transport issues arising from new developments.  A lot of work has already been undertaken to ensure that the Campus site, which is critical for the future of the city, can be accommodated by the works being considered at the moment.  We will continue to work with Transport Scotland to ensure that the long term solutions are also being progressed, but we have to recognise that development cannot stop until detailed designs are complete and funding is put in place.”