Plans have been unveiled for nearly 50 affordable houses beside an eco-development on the outskirts of Inverness.
Albyn Housing Society wants to develop a piece of ground next to Balvonie Braes, where Scotland’s Housing Expo was held in 2010.
It has applied to Highland Council for planning permission in principle for the housing estate, which would form the third phase of development at Balvonie.
A total of 45 houses are proposed for the site, which is more than five acres.
Details have yet to be finalised but a mix of houses are planned – 16 one-bedroom cottage-style flats, 20 two-bedroom semi-detached properties, eight three-bedroom semi-detached units and one four-bedroom house.
Existing roads at Balvonie Braes and Balvonie Street could be extended to serve the new site.
The greenfield site is zoned for housing in the local development plan, and Albyn recently purchased it from the Highland Housing Alliance.
A play area is also included in the north-west corner of the site, with timber equipment to match that in the expo estate.
In a planning statement, Albyn’s agents Colin Armstrong Ltd said the proposals would “take cognisance of the expo’s unusual design layout and aesthetic from a streetscape point of view”, helping it to fit with the existing houses.
The document adds: “It is a very attractive site taking into consideration the existing trees to be retained and the views available over the Moray Firth from the north west corner of the site.”
Scotland’s Housing Expo took place in summer 2010 and was aimed at showcasing innovative and environmentally friendly housing designs.
Thousands of people visited the 52-house scheme and some of the properties won architectural awards but it eventually made a financial loss.
The Scottish Government also ended up repaying much of a £5.4million loan guarantee to build the homes.
After the event, some of the properties took more than three years to sell.
Since then Albyn has spent £1million on building a further four flats and five terraced homes for mid-market rent at the site.