Avoch housing plans will create an 'us and them'

PLANNERS have been accused of overdeveloping a Ross-shire village and risking rich-poor segregation in the way they are allowing it to happen.

An Avoch-born resident claims the scale of expansion indicated by the council when he bought his Station Road home, seven years ago, has been exceeded.

Scott Patience has also condemned what he considers the "ghetto" aspect of dividing diverse affluent and struggling sections of new population.

The subsea inspection engineer says he wants the village to flourish and grow but questions whether the necessary school and medical provision will be in place prior to homes being completed.

Development currently on the horizon includes a Cairn Housing vision for 34 properties at Memorial Field on Station Road plus a 12-home second phase.

Kirkwood Homes intends to submit a planning application, in September, for 41 houses at Rosehaugh South.

Mr Patience, who lives in Station Road, said: "The housing on the Avoch hill around Rosehaugh South is all private, luxury housing.

"It seems the developers are keeping this theme by building a high-end complex while hoarding the less well-off into a high density field, keeping them away from the mansions on the hill.

"It’s a disgrace and creating a ghetto. We’re supposed to be ridding society of class stereotypes and promoting integration. That won’t happen as things stand.

"Jamming in low income, hard up, people will create an ‘us and them’ mentality."

Noting a change in layout from previous plans, he envisages a "high density, low cost, profit making blot on the landscape".

Mr Patience (43) added: "Serious questions need to be asked about the motives behind this.

"Why create a potentially divided community in 2018. Is this money-related? Or do the developers/council not care, as they don’t live there?"

The contrast in volume of homes indicated seven years ago means "there’s now a far greater impact on my privacy and in terms of light pollution," he added.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "The area benefits from an up to date local development plan which seeks to provide enough land to help meet the need for new houses in Highland. All planning decisions take into account the ability of the supporting infrastructure to accommodate these developments."

Subject to planning consent, the Cairn Housing Association charity hopes to build a mix of two to four-bedroom homes including bungalows, semi-detached houses and cottage apartments.

Its chief executive Jason MacGilp said, "We’re committed to meeting local housing needs across communities in Highland, in partnership with the council.

"This proposed scheme will be a significant step in providing much needed affordable homes in Avoch."

Highland Council’s rule is that at least a quarter of all new homes are "affordable".

Avoch Community Council chairwoman Sarah Dunton said she was awaiting a response to concerns registered about the height of buildings in Cairn’s proposals.

And she said an evening meeting was scheduled for July 18 between the community council, Avoch Amenities Association and representatives of Kirkwood Homes to discuss its latest vision.

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