Councillors yesterday narrowly approved plans for 60 flats on the site of a former swimming pool in Inverness despite serious concerns about its design.
The south planning committee voted 7-6 to grant Tulloch Homes’ application to build a £12million apartment block at the Glebe Street site beside Friars Bridge.
Local SNP councillor Richard Laird celebrated the prospect of a fresh lease of life for a long dormant site.
“It has lain vacant for nearly 20 years,” he said. “I was in primary school when the baths shut. I and most people in Inverness want to see this eyesore developed and see something there.
“Not everyone will be pleased with the design or the fact that it’s entirely residential. But I think most people will be pleased to see something on this site at long last and the many folk who want somewhere to live in Inverness will be pleased to see more dwellings in the city centre.”
Liberal Democrat city councillor Thomas Prag considered the location “probably the most important” to come before a planning committee for years and also welcomed the prospect of new housing.
However, he hates the design.
“It’s the right sort of development,” he said. “It’s just that we’re at risk of making the same mistake that our predecessors are constantly criticised for doing.”
Badenoch and Strathspey SNP councillor Bill Lobban went further, citing “poor quality” design.
He said: “Unfortunately, it looks as though someone got a new Lego set for Christmas. I just don’t think it’s good enough.”
Committee chairman Jimmy Gray acknowledged the city’s past architectural mistakes but agreed with Mr Laird that “the biggest problem is having no development in the city centre at all.”
A spokesman for Tulloch Homes said: “There’s a clear demand for the provision of quality accommodation in close proximity to the city centre, which will help in the regeneration of the centre of Inverness.
“We’ve experienced the same story in our Hedgefield development, similarly close to the centre, for which we are being inundated with inquiries.
“Our Glebe Street development includes affordable homes ideal for senior citizens and, of course, there’s understandably strong demand for elderly people to be able to live near the city centre, only a stroll to the shops and services.”
The committee unanimously approved plans for student accommodation and retail and commercial development at the former Rose Street Hall in Inverness.