| Date -11 May 2007 | Return to previous page |
A further stage has now been reached in the Review of the Moray Local Plan, the Planning document which contains land designations and policies for controlling new development.
After receiving over 700 objections to the Finalised Draft, Moray Council’s Environmental Services Committee has now considered these and has published a list of "modifications" it proposes to make to take account of these objections. Whilst many of the changes involve amendments to the wording of policies, there are a number of significant modifications to land allocations.
In Forres, an adjustment to the phasing of land release and access arrangements is proposed in the Lochyhill area, where housing allocations had given rise to a large number of objections. Land at Thornhill has also been subject to revision.
Changes are proposed at Lossiemouth, where revised industrial/business park/retail allocations are proposed at Sunbank. Large housing sites at Kinnedar and Stotfield Road have had to be altered due to new information on noise contours from RAF Lossiemouth.
At Keith, the proposed industrial site outside the town at Rosehall has been removed and industrial allocations at Bridge Street re-instated instead. A housing site at Kynoch Terrace has similarly been re-introduced.
In Elgin, the majority of objections related to roads proposals, particularly Wittet Drive. It has not been possible to make progress with these as the findings of the Elgin Traffic Study are still awaited, and it is likely that this issue will have to be referred directly to the Public Inquiry.
No changes to land allocations are proposed at Hopeman where objections for and against development had been submitted. The previous embargo has been lifted in Garmouth, although Waste Water capacity limits growth.
Rural Communities have been subject to changes. Three new communities are proposed – at East Grange; Newton of Struthers and Lettoch, whilst a previously proposed rural community at Lintmill Nursery is to be deleted. Objections to a housing allocation at Enzie have resulted in the site being removed.
All of the approved changes will now be advertised as "modifications" with a six week period to 15th June allowed for objections to be submitted. The schedule of modifications will be available for inspection at all Council Access Points and libraries, as well as being accessible on the Council’s web site.
Unresolved objections will be referred to a Public Inquiry, when a reporter from the Scottish Executives Inquiry Reporters Unit will arbitrate. The inquiry has provisionally been arranged for November. It is likely to be Spring 2008 before Moray Council is able to formally adopt the Review as a replacement for the Moray Local Plan 200 which will remain in force until then.