PLANNING consent for Asda's first Inverness store has finally been granted, but is to be held back for at least three months until a road improvement scheme has been designed.
Ministers announced yesterday they intend to give consent but first want to make sure there is a suitable traffic mitigation scheme in place.
Previously the Scottish Government had approved the long-awaited supermarket without taking into account potential traffic problems, sparking off a legal wrangle with another Inverness developer unhappy that the superstore would not contribute.
Asda's plan will have to state how traffic congestion at the busy Inshes roundabout and A9 slip road, where tailbacks are common, will be managed.
It comes just days after Asda and Highland Council brokered a deal which will see the company handing over £1.5 million for road improvements when work starts on the £25 million store at Slackbuie.
Whilst the latest developments bring the retail giant a step closer to establishing its first store in the Highland Capital the conditions mean construction will not start this year as originally hoped.
A letter issued yesterday by the government's planning department to applicants Elphinstone states that normally the identity of the operator of a development would not be material to consideration of a planning application, but ministers decided that Asda operating its first store in the area may well give rise to congestion.
The letter states ministers are satisfied that acceptable mitigation is achievable and that the council, as roads authority, is best placed to come up with a scheme in consultation with Transport Scotland.
Ministers were forced to take another look at Asda's application after a consortium of developers lodged a court appeal.
Inverness Estates - comprising David Sutherland, of Tulloch Homes, David Cameron, of Upland Developments, Peter Mackintosh of Nairn-based Narden Services and Aberdeen developer Jim Shaw - mounted the legal challenge because they were unhappy Asda had been given the green light to build a new store without being required to help fund road improvements.
It is now hoped however that production of a traffic plan will be sufficient to avoid any further legal challenges to the development.
Yesterday a spokesman for Inverness Estates stressed: "Our stance is quite simple. If Inshes roundabout is improved and Asda put £1.5 million in advance it is moving in the right direction."
But, he could not rule out altogether the possibility of a further appeal saying: "I cannot say until I read it."
Lisa Rooke, Asda's property communications manager, said: "This is good news and a step forward for our proposals.
"We sincerely hope that the public interest will now be put first and we will be able to move forward with our plans without any further legal challenges or delays."
By Lorna McCann
Inverness Courier
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