Welcome to Planning Ahead, which looks at some of the major applications and decisions in the Highlands.
This week includes a bid to turn a prominent city centre shop in Inverness into a café or restaurant, the building of an onshore electricity substation in Caithness and an extension to a substation in Skye.
The former Currys building in Inverness High Street is being earmarked as a café or restaurant.
Change of use from retail to food and drink sought
Target Real Estate has applied for permission to change the use of the premises, between McDonalds and Superdrug, from Class 1 (retail) to Class 3 (food and drink).
As well as Currys, the building has been previously occupied by Brighthouse which went into administration.
It is now occupied by a shop trading as Scottish Home Stores whose lease is due to expire.
Agents for the applicant said: “Due to its prominent location and internal layout over three floors, the unit is suitable for retail and restaurant uses.
“In the event we are successful in obtaining Class 3 planning permission, we will be seeking restaurant/ food/ coffee shop operators for the site.”
Another change of use is being sought for a takeaway/restaurant at 2-4 Lombard Street Inverness.
Applicant Tanveer Siddique wants to convert the premises into four flats.
Caithness electricity substation proposed
Highland Wind Limited (HWL) is seeking permission for an onshore electricity substation, with underground cables, cable landfall and infrastructure on land south of Dounreay.
This will export electricity from the Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm into the national grid.
The wind farm, unveiled last year, will be located off the coast of Dounreay and will be capable of providing energy to about 70,000 homes.
A virtual exhibition on the proposals can be viewed between August 29 – September 19 via the project website.
A live Q&A will also take place between 12pm- 2.30pm and 6pm-8.30pm on September 1 with members of the project team.
A public consultation is also planned for the proposed extension by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission to the Edinbane electricity substation.
The proposals comprise a platform area, indoor switching stations and substation buildings, associated plant and infrastructure, laydown areas and landscape works.
Consultation for Edinbane plans
A consultation will be held at Skeabost Memorial Hall from10am – 1pm on September 8.
A virtual public consultation will be held online on September 12 from 5pm-7pm at the website.
Glenmazeran Estate (The Englefield Estate Trust Corporation) wants to carry out peatland restoration work south east of Brin Lodge, Flichity, near Inverness.
The Monadhliath Deer Management Group has already completed over 3,500 hectares of peatland restoration on the estates taking part in the project.
It aims to reduce the erosion of peat to tackle losses of carbon stored in the peatland and increase vegetation cover to provide more habitat for plants and animals.
Mowi Scotland has received permission to remove existing pen equipment and install seven circular pens to help reduce the effect of predators at a fish farm at Loch Hourn.
Roads consent for housing plan
The Friends of Loch Hourn community group raised concerns about potential impact on priority marine features (PMFs) and questioned why seven 160m-circumference pens had been applied for rather than six.
It said a stronger precautionary approach would employ the use of camera technology.
Highland Council has also granted road construction consent for a planned development of 33 residential units by Tulloch Homes on land south west of Bogbain Farmhouse at Inshes.
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