Progress made on action plan for Nairn town centre

Plans to regenerate Nairn town centre took another step forward today as Members of The Highland Council’s, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee gave their backing to a draft Action Plan for Nairn Town Centre drawn up with the help of residents, businesses and community groups in the town.

Members agreed for the draft plan to be finalised and then published for formal public consultation.  The plan will set out details of projects that are aimed at increasing footfall and visitor numbers in the town centre.  It is also intended to help with applications for funding towards improvement projects.  

A range of ideas identified by the public will be considered further through the Action Plan including:

• specific buildings in the town such as the Social Work building and the Council’s Finance Office;
  
• improved public spaces, streets and vennels - including improvements to car parking and the space around King Street for when the A96 bypass is delivered;
  
• potential new facilities that would attract visitors and retain services in the town centre such as a Civic Hub.  

Leader of the Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee Councillor Liz MacDonald welcomed the attendance at a recent two-day event about the draft plan, she said: “I am very pleased that local people have so far engaged on the proposals for the Draft Action Plan we had a good level of interest from local businesses, community councils, volunteer groups and schools.  I look forward to continued engagement between the Council and community to achieve the best ways forward for the regeneration of Nairn town centre.” 

A Town Centre Action Plan is now being developed which sets out details of the emerging proposals with actions for the short, medium and long-term.  A formal public consultation will take place in due course and the council will consult again with all the community groups who contributed to the action plan event.  

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