Lairg and Lochiver – First Stops in Sutherland Local Plan Consultation

Planners begin a seven-week consultation for the new Sutherland Local Plan with meetings at Lairg on Monday (23 October) and Lochinver on Thursday (26 October).

The public is invited to attend an afternoon public exhibition between 3:30pm and  5:45pm. This is followed by an evening public meeting which starts at 7pm.

The Consultation document “Sutherland Futures”, which is now widely available at Council Service Points, libraries, some post offices and on The Highland Council web-site puts forward a sustainable development strategy capable of delivering up to 1,300 new houses in Sutherland by 2016 - including an outstanding deficit of 150 affordable homes - and of giving access to 800 new jobs. 

The priorities at Lairg are to maintain the momentum of economic and physical regeneration. There are important opportunities to revitalise the village. A large number of sites are put forward for consideration and there is opportunity to identify a preferred direction for growth. One of the sites identified is the former Sutherland Arms Hotel, a substantial disused building which occupies a prominent location in the settlement. The Local Plan could identify potential refurbishment or redevelopment of it. The Auction Mart site at Lairg Station provides opportunities for expanded or additional business uses.

In Lochinver, the priorities are to follow up on the outcomes of previous housing study work carried out during 2004 and 2005, and identify sites which can come forward for development over the course of the next few years.  A fundamental consideration is of course the potential offered by the community land interests at Assynt, and the Local Plan offers an opportunity to look at the servicing and environmental implications of these developments. Drumbeg and Stoer lie within a National Scenic Area and support local services. At Drumbeg there is opportunity for some infill development. At Stoer there may be some scope for development of a small site but the water supply is currently constrained.

Councillor Francis Keith, Chairman of the Sutherland County Committee said “There is clearly a challenge in accommodating growth and making it happen in a way that does not harm valuable features of Sutherland but rather is of benefit. This is why we have come up with options for how growth might be accommodated in and around communities and are consulting on them. We envisage that not all of the option sites will be required for development in the next few years- and consultation may show that some sites are not suitable anyway.”

The deadline for submission of written comments on Sutherland Futures is Friday 15 December. The Council will carefully consider all comments before deciding on what will be in the draft Local Plan early in 2007.

Note to editors:

On each of the following dates the Council is holding an afternoon public exhibition, which starts at 3:30pm (4pm at Bonar Bridge and Dornoch/Embo) and closes at 5:45pm. This is followed by an evening public meeting which starts at 7pm. Dates and venues are as follows:

Lairg 
Monday 23 October 2006 Lairg Community Centre
Lochinver 
Thursday 26 October 2006 Lochinver Village Hall
Scourie 
Monday 30 October 2006 Scourie Village Hall
Rogart
Wednesday 1 November 2006 Rogart Village Hall
Brora 
Thursday 2 November 2006 Brora Community Centre
Durness 
Monday 6 November 2006 Durness Village Hall
Bonar Bridge
Tuesday 7 November 2006 Bonar Bridge Village Hall
Kinlochbervie
Thursday 9 November 2006 Kinlochbervie Village Hall
Strathy/Armadale
Monday 13 November 2006 Strathy Village Hall
Ardgay
Wednesday 15 November 2006 Ardgay Village Hall
Portskerra/Melvich 
Thursday 16 November 2006 Melvich Village Hall
Bettyhill 
Monday 20 November 2006 Bettyhill Village Hall
Tongue
Tuesday 21 November 2006 Tongue Village Hall
Golspie 
Thursday 23 November 2006 Golspie High School
Helmsdale
Monday 27 November 2006 Helmsdale Community Centre
Edderton
Tuesday 28 November 2006 Edderton Village Hall
Dornoch/Embo
Thursday 30 November 2006 Dornoch Academy

Further advice about the Sutherland Local Plan consultation can be obtained from:
David Cowie – tel (01463) 702827; Brian MacKenzie – tel (01463) 702276; Katie Briggs – tel (01463) 702271 and Julie-Ann Acheson – tel (01463) 702266; or Email: Sutherlandlp@highland.gov.uk