A £13million expansion at the north’s largest retail park has been recommended for approval by planners, despite concern that it will damage the city centre.
Inverness Shopping Park wants to add three new big name restaurants, revamp its shop fronts and redesign its car park, as well as adding a number of new facilties on the grounds.
Major outlets Frankie and Benny’s, TGI Fridays and Nando’s have been lined up for the restaurant offering, with the park estimating that 180 jobs will be created by the revamp.
However, the project has been opposed by key city centre players including Inverness Bid and the Eastgate Shopping Centre who claim that the restaurants, would draw footfall out of town.
Planning officer John Kelly has recommended that the plans are approved when they go before councillors next week, arguing there would be “no significant impact” on the viability of the city centre.
Inverness Bid manager Mike Smith said yesterday that he would be “very disappointed” if planning permission were to be granted, arguing that approval would go against the council and Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting city centres.
He said: “Our point is that these are destination restaurants, people choose to go there rather it simply catering for people already at the retail park.
“That would take footfall away from other places like in the city centre, there’s only so much of a pie that can be shared out.”
The Eastgate Shopping Centre’s owner Scoop has also objected.
Both the Scottish Council for Development and Industry and Inverness Chamber of Commerce have both supported the plans.
Kirsteen Gunn, Inverness Shopping Park manager said: “We’re obviously pleased that the recommendation is to approve our application, but we are not taking anything for granted as it will be up to the local councillors to decide.
“We hope they take into account the strong support we have from the local community for this multi million pound upgrade which will include better facilities for shoppers, particularly families.”
Planning officer Mr Kelly said: “The retail park began operating 20 years ago and is beginning to show its age. It is lacking in basic user amenities, public toilets etc, and there is limited restaurant provision to serve the retail park.
“The units themselves are in need of modernisation and the current outdated layout of the car park is focused too strongly on vehicle movement at the expense of safer pedestrian and cycle access.”