North transport chiefs have told a developer that it must build a 500-space park-and-ride facility as part of its plans for a new town on the outskirts of Inverness.
A masterplan for the 2,500-home scheme at Stratton – between the A96 Aberdeen road and the communities of Culloden and Smithton – was approved by councillors in 2010.
The original project included a 500-space park-and-ride facility, but the proposals have now been revised and the new development brief has only earmarked a site for 150 cars.
It is also not scheduled for completion until after the construction of the first 550 homes, a supermarket, another non-food store and a hotel.
In an official response to the proposed development, Highland Council engineer Mark Clough said it would have to be built more quickly.
He wrote: “Given that this proposal will now be residential-led, we’ll be looking for the park-and-ride facility to be available earlier in the development phasing to provide improved non-car connectivity into the city for the new residential units being delivered through Phases 1 A and B.”
He added: “The section on future phases of the wider development on page 83 of the ADB (area development brief) makes no reference to the permanent 500-space park-and-ride facility required through the current planning permission.
“This omission should be corrected before any permission to this ADB is issued.”
Tim Stott, principal planner at the local authority, has also raised concerns in his consultation response.
He said: “It is disappointing that previous advice has not been heeded by the applicant.
“For example, there are still no guarantees given in terms of effective connectivity to adjoining existing/proposed city expansion areas.
“The potential primary street connections are blurred in terms of location, design and purpose.”
The Inverness Bid group, which represents city centre businesses, has meanwhile warned that a retail impact assessment must be carried out before the scheme is considered.
Mark Shaw, chief executive of the Hazledene Group developer, which is behind the plans, said this week: “The existing infrastructure will be improved, and certainly not burdened by the development, which will fund millions of pounds of roads’ enhancement.”