- Local community gets first sight of outline planning proposals
- Regeneration of industrial area for mixed tenure housing
- Iconic landmark building design proposed for what could be the tallest building in the Highlands
24th April 2008 – Proposals for an exciting new multi-million-pound mixed tenure housing development on Inverness’ waterfront featuring a stunning and iconic landmark building have been revealed to the local area’s community and councillors.
The proposed development by Caledonian Property Partnership on the edge of the South Kessock area of the northwest of Inverness could see around 190 new residential properties being added to the Inverness housing sector over the next five years through the transformation of a traditional brown field site currently used for industrial and commercial use and, in some areas, lying dormant.
The outline proposal, which was revealed to the local community at a public exhibition at the Merkinch Community Centre, includes a mix of social, key worker and private housing and would be linked to the city centre by a new waterside walkway.
The iconic landmark building, inspired by a lighthouse and potentially the tallest building in the Highlands, would offer the housing market, for the first time, unique views over the River Ness and the Moray Firth beyond to Ben Wyvis, the Kessock Bridge and potentially Loch Ness and the mountains to the West.
The designs for the development have been prepared by Inverness based architects Colin Armstrong Associates.
A spokesman for developers Caledonian Property Partnership said, “We believe that there is a wonderful opportunity to diversify the type of housing available to residents of Inverness. At the heart of this outline planning proposal is a wide mix of social, key worker and private properties in an area of Inverness that has only ever seen industrial and commercial use. As well as housing we would expect a small number of commercial units to be created.
“We firmly believe any regeneration and redevelopment of the waterside at the edge of South Kessock, combined with The Inverness Harbour development further downstream, to be a positive development for the City of Inverness.”
Colin Armstrong from Colin Armstrong Associates said, “Cities across the world see vibrant waterside communities playing an important part in their ongoing regeneration and there is no reason why Inverness should be any different. We would stress that the artist’s impressions represent only one possible reflection of the final proposals but we firmly believe that the site offers an opportunity to create an iconic landmark building as part of the wider waterfront proposals.”
Donald Lockhart at Albyn Housing Society said, “We are totally committed to the regeneration of this area of Inverness. We have already seen the impact of our own investment in the area and the encouragement it has given to other developers and tenure diversification, in an area that has traditionally had the lowest percentage of owner-occupied properties in the Highlands, is a vital part of that strategy. This waterside development, based on principles of quality, innovation and integration has the potential to continue this momentum and transform this part of Inverness. Many cities are developing their traditional harbourside areas for housing and Inverness has an opportunity with this proposed development to create something special and to respond to the strong demand in the city for housing for a range of residents.”
The four-acre site at South Kessock in the centre of Inverness was purchased in Spring 2007 from Gael Force Properties Ltd.
Issued on behalf of Caledonian Property Partnership by Wave PR Ltd. For further information please contact Jonathan Kennedy on 0141-303-8390 or 07799-768968.
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