A “long overdue” review of planning rules around Culloden Battlefield has been launched in a bid to protect the historic site from future development.
Highland Council has drawn up plans to extend the protection area around the war grave almost two miles beyond the boundary of 1746 battlefield.
The site was at the centre of a row last year when a developer was granted permission to build houses with sight of the moor.
Local councillor Ken Gowans. Inverness South, said that the “people across the world” were following the decision of the Inverness area committee yesterday to consult on their revised plans.
If the new protection zone is approved following the consultation it will mean that any development with the boundary will face tougher planning rules.
The review has been launched after recent research into the moor revealled that the battle took place over a much wider area than previously thought.
The new boundary will roughly follow the route of the modern rail line and will also encompass the Clava Cairns.
Inverness city leader Ian Brown said: “This consultation is welcome as the existing plan was first designated in 1968 and its review is long overdue.
“This will be the first major review of the existing conservation area by the council in 47 years.”
Councillor Thomas Prag, Inverness South, said: “The review is important and it has been in progress for some time now.
“How people approach the Battlefield and how they feel about it when they are there is important, and hopefully the consultation will address that. Everyone will have the opportunity to have their say on the proposals prior to designation of the new conservation area which must be formally notified to Scottish Government ministers.”
Mr Gowans said that the new planning rules would mean that the site could avoid being “swamped by development”.
However, one sticking point came over the name of the battlefield area.
Council documents referred to the site as “Culloden Muir” as that is how it is referred to by Ordnance Survey maps.
However, committee members urged officials to revert to the more familiar Culloden Moor.
Councillor Roddy Balfour, Culloden and Ardersier, said: “The weight of historical precedence comes down on the side of the word ‘moor’ for this one.”
Conservation officer Kerry Hawthorne said she was open to changing the terminology used during the consultation.