City centre businesses in Inverness have spoken out against plans for a £13million facelift of the north’s biggest retail park.
Several high-profile shops and pubs fear the revamp of Inverness Shopping Centre would harm traders in the heart of the Highland capital.
They claim the proposals would have the “potential to change trading patterns” in the city centre, but those behind the scheme insist it will be “complementary” to what is on offer elsewhere.
The site owners unveiled proposals in September to open three new restaurants – Frankie and Benny’s, TGI Fridays and Nando’s.
They also want to transform the shop fronts and redesign the grounds at the retail park on the eastern outskirts of Inverness.
The plans would create 180 jobs – if they are approved by Highland Council.
But key city centre players, including Inverness Bid and Scoop – the owners of the Eastgate Shopping Centre – have lodged their objections to the proposals.
Don Lawson, of Emerald Inns, which operates Johnny Foxes and The Den in the city centre and George MacLean, the owner of The Phoenix Ale House and Castle Tavern have also raised concerns.
Mr Lawson said: “We consider this proposed change of use allowing these restaurants to be based out of town rather than in the city centre will have a major effect on the city centre hospitality economy. Given the nature of the proposed restaurants, we believe they will affect the viability of the current restaurants in the city centre.”
A previous application for the three restaurants was withdrawn in February this year after Highland Council planners recommended refusal following objections from the city centre.
The Restaurant Group, which own the Frankie and Benny’s brand, has issued a letter of support for the resubmitted application – while also confirming they are also continuing with parallel proposals to open a restaurant in the Eastgate Centre.
In its submission, the group say that it has been “seeking an opportunity” to open a Frankie and Benny’s in Inverness since 1998, adding the retail park and the city centre “are complementary to each other”.
But Inverness Bid manager Mike Smith said he did not agree that the two could mix due to issues with footfall in the city centre and geography.
He said: “The development would be detrimental to the city centre and would have the potential to change trading patterns significantly.”
However, in his submission Fraser Grieve, the north’s regional director of the SCDI, said: “As a keen supporter of Inverness city centre, I have considered our position on this development carefully and on balance feel it is right to allow these changes to progress.
“With the student accommodation being created at the campus and in the city centre it is right that students, as well as others, living around the city, should have a competitive choice of where to spend their leisure time and have access to the jobs that this development will bring.
“Much more needs to be done to support Inverness city centre to develop, but that work must be about raising the competitiveness of that offering, rather than holding back developments such as this.”
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said: “I firmly believe this proposed development will improve the prospects for Inverness city centre by attracting more people to visit, live and work in the city. None of our long-established restaurants have anything to fear from this development.”
The plans also include a complete redesign of the car park, as well as new features including a children’s play area, public toilets with changing facilities and landscaped grounds.
Kirsteen Gunn, Inverness Shopping Park manager, said: “We are keen to work in partnership with others to make sure Inverness city is a thriving hub for shoppers, whether they are visiting the shopping park, the town centre or both.
“The park is nearly 20 years old and is in need of certain upgrades if we are to meet the expectations of today’s shoppers and visitors to the area.”