Dingwall Business Park guddle continues but there is light at the end of the tunnel due to local firm Lockett Agri-Environmental offering potential solutions

The guddle surrounding Dingwall Business Park will continue despite significant progress in alleviating the risk of flooding through the intervention of a local firm.

Councillors approved five planning applications related to the business park on Wednesday in a complicated set of decisions that were tentatively welcomed.

For years councillors and businesses have been demanding action over the impasse as to which statutory body holds the responsibility for dealing with the problem.

Critics remained scathing about the official response to a business park that can’t allow business to set-up shop with one describing it as “unbelievable – it is lethargic.”

That is down to the risk of flooding as it is understood that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) sold off plots, including parts of the flood bund, which deteriorated.

Those flood defences were not maintained sparking formal objections from SEPA – which ironically is located in Dingwall Business Park like HIE – on new applications.

Matters were further complicated when councillors tried to bring the issue to a head by agreeing planning approval for two developments

But that led the Scottish Government to call-in applications so they could not be developed – including one from HIE to rebuild the flood defences.

A potential solution was closer to hand than HIE, Highland Council or the Scottish Government than anyone knew in a Dingwall agricultural-environmental firm.

An ambitious scheme will see Lockett Agri-Environmental funded by NatureScot re-meander the Peffery River away from the business park.

The company led by Richard Lockett has already conducted similar work further upstream but this project could help to unlock the business park for development.

The plans involved diverting one tributary to the river into a “mosaic of wetlands” during high water levels and directing the Peffery so it does not run alongside the business park.

The change is relatively small on the map but would play a significant role in relieving pressure on the flood defences.

Planning officer Susan Hadfield said: “They [Lockett Agri-Environmental] will move the main river channel away from the informal flood bund that reduces flood risk to Dingwall Business Park.

“The Flood Risk Assessment demonstrates that the works will significantly reduce shear forces on the informal flood bund and so reduce the risk of erosion and/or failure of the structure”.

The move will see conditions attached by Scottish Ministers but it remains unclear whether now that planning has been granted how far the developments can go.

That is because they all have a condition attached that “should prevent the commencement of development until a scheme to manage the flood” is agreed.

The council confirmed that work can start once the updated flood risk assessment has been approved.

But occupation of the site cannot occur until the associated Peffrey improvements are completed. These works are committed and due to be completed over the summer.

Former budget leader and business consultant Alister Mackinnon has repeatedly spoken out against the lack of progress.

“I act as a consultant for some of the firms trying to get into the business park and the lack of progress in the last three years has been unbelievable – it is lethargic,” he said.

“So it is no surprise that some of the businesses that were planning to locate in the business park have gone elsewhere. This is a business park and it is not open for business.

“And that is just absolutely unbelievable that people who are supposed to be encouraging businesses into the local area – i.e. Dingwall, being the county town of Ross-shire – and they can’t do so.

“It is a lethargic attitude to business when the Scottish Government and HIE and the council can’t get together and work together for a solution.

“We are hopefully going to get a solution now but that doesn’t get away from the time and the money and the energy that has been wasted over the years – it is all talk and no action”.

Meanwhile HIE’s planning application to build the flood bund remains outstanding since 2023, partly due to planning matters related to the park being called in by Scottish Ministers.

A spokesman for HIE said: “Our application was put on hold pending exploration of the alternative option that is now being proposed. This option has wider benefits and has greater positive environmental impact.

“We would expect it to go ahead if consent is granted and if funding is secured. It’s too early to say what the total cost would be, but we would look to make a contribution.”

Highland Council, however, believe the planning application “remains undetermined” because “further information has been requested from the applicant which is still awaited. On satisfactory receipt of this information the application will be determined”.

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