Figure 1: Map 31, Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2, page 278, published for consultation on 25th March 2023

Nairn’s town centre is identified as having potential development opportunity across mixed uses: housing; business; retail; and community. Potential for 20 new houses is identified over an area of 4.6. Reference Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2, page 280.

The Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2 identifies the Town Centre development area as the area between the A96 and the High Street, framed to the North by St Ninian Road (A96) and to the South by Leopold Street, and extending to include the Fire Station and bus station as far as this ground bounds onto Viewfield.

Is this how you view the Town Centre? Do you think the High Street experience should extend down Harbour Street to the harbour shops, café and restaurant, and encompass the remaining commercial activity here? Perhaps the High Street experience needs to extend to the harbour to aid mobility through the town, from the train station to the beach?

Can the Town Centre be enhanced to foster Active Travel within a Green, Resilient Nairn whilst attracting and promoting employment and business growth?

We would love to know what you think to best support Nairnshire’s Local Place Plan. You can contact us directly at lpp@nicenairn.org.uk or leave your comment below.

Figure 1. Nairn, Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2, published for consultation 25th March 2023, page 278

Area NA02 Former Showfield East is identified in IMFLDP2 for an indicative 20 new homes in circa 0.8ha. Development of the site does feature requirements, including retaining the “green space, including provision of reconfigured sports pitch of at least equivalent size and quality”, all with enhanced parking and access provision. Reference Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2, published for consultation 25th March 2023, page 279.

What do you think?

Is it possible to achieve an enhanced access, with parking, where access is generally obtained from Lodgehill Road?

How does an additional 20 homes, at an additional 30 vehicles (calculated using the THC planning formula of 1.5 cars per new home), feature accessing the A96 at one of the most congested stretches of the A96 as it travels through Nairn?

Perhaps you think this infill site makes clear sense in the sustainable development of Nairn, creating capacity increase in housing without expanding the boundaries of the town?

Or do you think that the Showfield represents a key Getting Around anchor point in accessing the primary schools and High Street from Achareidh and Tradespark, taking pedestrians and non-vehicular transport away from the A96 whilst maintaining green space and capacity for sports in the town centre?

You can tell us what you think directly at lpp@nicenairn.org.uk or leave your comment below.

Figure 1. Map 31 Nairn, Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan, page 278, published for consultation 25th March 2023.

Area NA01 in Achareidh is identified for housing over an area of circa 18.4ha. The site is identified with an indicative capacity of 30 new houses.

How would you see the future of Achareidh?

Is 30 new houses a potential an increase in capacity for affordable homes, securing opportunity for Nairnshire’s young families to live and work in Nairn?

Perhaps you see the future of Achareidh as a corner stone in a green resilient Nairnshire, building on in-town green space and allotment farming, or perhaps you see the site as an extension of Community Amenities with development potential for an activity space in Nairn centre?

We’d love to receive your thoughts directly at lpp@nicenairn.org.uk, or leave a comment below.

Figure 1:Auldearn settlement map, Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2, page 100, published for consultation 25th March 2023

Auldearn is represented in the IMFLDP2 as a Main Settlement, for Local development as a Tier 3 settlement. For comparison, a Tier 1 settlement includes “good active travel and public transport links”, whilst a Tier 4 settlement offers “very limited employment, transport options and services.”, which due to being “almost exclusively dependent on car based travel” are not “appropriate locations for any significant development”. Reference Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2, published for consultation 25th March 2023, paragraph 28 and Table 2 Settlement Hierarchy, pages 31 and 32..

Auldearn is represented with only one future land allocation AU01. AU01 is designated for housing, with an indicative capacity of 30 new homes.

What do you think?

Does this IMFLDP2 AU01 Land at Meadowfield satisfy your hopes and ambitions for Auldearn, a key settlement in Nairnshire and the wider Highlands?

How could you see AU01, or any other packet of land, be best used to serve:

• Community Amenities, including schooling and healthcare
• Green, Resilient Nairnshire
• Getting Around, including active travel, access for all, and general mobility in Auldearn
• Local Employment and Business growth
• Town Centre and Tourist Welcome, including regeneration

Please do send us your thoughts directly to lpp@nicenairn.org.uk, or by leaving a comment below.

…and this is the year that we are going to make it happen!

On Friday, 27th September, Highland Council closes registration for Local Place Plans. “Once registered, Local Place Plans will be taken into account as evidence for the new Local Development Plan and can also be a material consideration when planning applications are being considered.” Reference The Highland Council Local Place Plans

Your Local Place Plan is being worked on now. This includes:

• the Initial Community Survey, completed over Summer 2023
• Community Group consultations, which have been running over winter 2023 and culminate in the Community Group Consultation event on 15th January
• a Highland Council engagement event on 5th February, to consult with and engage across all aspects of the Highland Council delivery leaders, such as Active Transport, and other groups including Highlife Highland and HIE
• our Community Engagement programme, set to run through March reaching out to all areas represented by the Nairnshire Local Place Plan

Whilst the schedule is worked through, you can still submit your suggestions and recommendations and ask any questions through your Local Place Plan team, by email at lpp@nicenairn.org.uk, in person in our open Thursday’s at the Nairn Community and Arts Centre, or by posting a comment online.

Don’t leave it too late. Get in touch and help to make Nairnshire your Nairnshire.

#teamnairn