Retail Development
RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS AT INVERNESS
In dealing with a detailed planning application from Tesco for a superstore at Holm, Ness-side Inverness, The Highland Council has not discussed a sum of money that the developer might be expected to pay for the infrastructure that will be required to allow the development to go ahead.
Mr John Rennilson, Director of Planning and Development, said he was surprised to read that a figure of £13 million had been mentioned as a contribution Tesco would be willing to make to connect the Southern Distributor Road across the river and the canal to the A 82.
He said: "A detailed planning application has been submitted for a superstore at Ness-side and officials are currently in active discussion with agents for Tesco on the planning and highway issues involved.
"A starting point for considering any application is the Local Plan. We would also take into account a retail assessment on the impact on other shops in Inverness and a transport assessment on the traffic flows that the development will generate. Then a recommendation will be made to the Planning Development Europe and Tourism Committee.
"If a major application like this was to be approved, it is established practice that we would discuss with the developer a proportionate contribution towards infrastructure which is directly related to their development.. The public, after all, would not expect roads etc to be provided for the benefit of a private developer through their Council Tax.
"I can assure the public that at this stage of the processing of the application no figure has been discussed with Council officials."
Speaking about Tesco’s presence in Inverness, Mr Rennilson added: "In an ideal world we would have all the major chains in the Inverness area, providing choice and competition. Planning permission relates to land and is not personal to the applicant, so we cannot dictate the operator of a site. Market forces determine this.
"As a planning authority, we also want to strike a balance of meeting the demands of a growing population in Inverness by providing locations for quality food retail outlets. At the same time we need to ensure that development does not grow to the detriment of the city centre in Inverness or affect the viability of food retail outlets in surrounding communities, such as Nairn, Dingwall and East Ross."
He said the Local Plan for Inverness identified potential food retail district centres at Culloden; Culduthel/Slackbuie and Ness-side.
Tesco already has outline planning permission for a neighbourhood development at Ness-side featuring a 1,800 sq metre store and a filling station. The new plan proposes a superstore on the site.