08:50 - 06 February 2008 - Press and Journal

The controversial Highland Housing "Fair" planned for Inverness greenbelt is another step closer, following councillors' blessing yesterday for the project's master plan.

The Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey planning committee unanimously consented a total of 53 "green" homes to be showcased at the Braes of Balvonie, on the south side of the city, in August 2009.

While the event's co-ordinator, Fiona Porteous, promised a "landmark event for Scotland," leading objector, neighbouring Bogbain farmer Brian MacGregor, was disappointed that only a dozen members of the 18-strong committee had attended the debate.

A TORY MSP has hit out at council planning officials and Highland Housing Fair organisers over the handling of the controversial Inverness project.

By Calum Ross - Inverness Courier - Published: 09 October, 2007


Profile: Mary Scanlon MSP
Mary Scanlon said the event, to be held in the city in 2009, had been poorly managed and that she did not trust Highland Council when it came to housing developments.

Senior planning officials were on the receiving end of a two-hour onslaught from angry members of the public at a meeting called to discuss the masterplan for the exhibition.

Many of the residents from south Inverness were still upset at a perceived lack of public consultation before councillors approved the fair organisers’ planning application to build 100 houses on the green wedge site at Balvonie Braes, Milton of Leys, in January.

Ms Scanlon, a resident of south Inverness for 13 years, was unimpressed with the amount of information available at the meeting and questioned the council’s director of planning John Rennilson, who attended the meeting, on the issue.

“If there is anger here from Milton of Leys it is because you build houses and don’t think about building communities,” she said. “How can you build that bridge of trust and confidence? On the basis of experience, personal experience, I couldn’t trust you.”

Speaking after the meeting, the Highlands and Islands MSP said she had personally encountered problems with the local authority.

“They have built housing estates in Inverness south with no idea of how to build communities,” she said. “That is why we have the anger and frustration and lack of trust with the council.

“It (the Highland Housing Fair) has been very, very poorly managed. I think that is the point, Highland Council have managed the Balvonie housing fair in the way they manage all developments, but this time they’ve come up against a very highly organised, vociferous opposition in what they are doing. This is basically people power.”

The housing fair is a major project which aims to showcase cutting-edge sustainable and innovative design and construction, predicted to attract thousands of visitors to the city in 18 months time.

Organisers have come in for criticism since selection of the green wedge Balvonie Braes site, which was not zoned for development in the city’s local plan, and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is currently investigating allegations that the planning application was pre-judged and that residents were not sufficiently consulted.

Mr Rennilson said yesterday he did not agree with Ms Scanlon’s comment it had been poorly managed, stating that all appropriate procedures had been followed, and was disappointed she could not trust the local authority.

“I’m disappointed. I had a very friendly chat with Mary on the street on Saturday morning,” he said. “I understand the frustration. There’s an on-going discussion about public space where Mary lives which I’ve said I would look at.”

Around 30 members of the public attended Thursday’s meeting at Inshes Primary School and the vast majority were critical of council planners and event organisers.

“I came along tonight hoping for a proper consultation and I haven’t got that,” said Steven Wilson from west Inverness. “I’m really most disappointed in the show we have had tonight.”

One young man, who preferred not to be named, said there should be resignations if the event does not run smoothly in 2009.

“I came here tonight with an open mind,” he said. “But I’m shocked that there seems to be such a high degree of ineptitude on the part of those concerned.

“From what I’ve seen here tonight I am absolutely disgusted. I just get the impression this whole thing is just one big fudge and I would be very surprised if, in 18-months time, it all goes to plan.”