A masterplan is also being developed whereby plans for a youth facility, new football ground for the Forres Mechanics and all-weather sports pitches could be submitted at a later date, with cash from the sale of the commercial land.

The proposals for a retail park have attracted many comments since they were first disclosed in the "Forres Gazette" last November, with scores of people speaking out against the loss of a chunk of the town's green common good land.

Developers claim that the £25 million plans will enhance retail and community facilities and allow Forres to compete for shoppers against the increasing attractions of Inverness and Elgin, with sensitive landscaping to provide increased screening, an improved view from Bogton Road and better pedestrian and cycle access to Forres High Street.

"This dynamic and vibrant development for a key gateway site will strengthen the local economy by creating up to 500 full and part-time jobs," said public relations spokesperson Mark Cumming.

"Redco Milne is positive and fully committed to delivering this project despite the recession, and is confident in the viability of the project, and since its launch in late 2008 there has been considerable market interest from national retailers."

Although he would not confirm the name of any possible retailers due to commercial confidentiality, he hinted that big names were in the frame.

"We have always been confident about the commercial viability of this proposal," he said. "We have had a number of talks with companies and this is the next stage."

The proposals to completely re-develop the area north of Bogton Road would include moving the current Forres Mechanics Football Club ground at Mosset Park to a new site further along the A96 and demolishing the derelict former Tesco site on Gordon Street.

The planning application includes a new access road off the A96 with a supermarket and petrol station, and construction of a small retail park, with units filled by national chain stores.

Proposals for a hotel, garden centre and visitor centre with restaurant have been dropped.

Plans for all weather sports pitches, and a youth facility with climbing wall, skate park and space for young people to meet could be submitted later, if Moray Council gives the go-ahead, as well as the proposals for the new football ground.

"It doesn't make any sense for us to submit a planning application for the whole thing if we are not going to get approval for the commercial side of the proposals," said Mr Cumming. "Without the commercial side, there will be no money for the other community facilities. So we have to get this first and find out if the council are willing to let us have the Common Good Land before we move to the next stage."

Moray Council recently commissioned independent expert advice about the possible sale of the common good land where developers wish to build.

The developers already own the former Tesco site, and have been in negotiation with residential properties and a local business about buying them out or helping them to re-locate as their premises could be demolished under the plans to free up space on the site.

Moray councillors have been urging residents to make their views known with a statutory consultation process now set to follow the planning application and the likelihood that there will be objections to the proposals.

There has been much discussion about the compensation to Forres from the loss of their common good land. Mr Cumming said that it was up to the council to discuss how the cash would be spent and if it would be on community facilities.

"We have had extensive discussions with Forres Mechanics Football Club, Forres Future Group and local residents," he said. "We think there is a lot of support for these youth facilities and we are urging them to press ahead."

He said Redco Milne had master-planned for a brand new football ground for the Can-Cans, an all-weather artificial pitch which could be one seven a-side or alternatively three five a-sides, with provision for an indoor youth facility to house an indoor skate park, BMX facility and climbing wall.

He said that during the last seven months Redco Milne had engaged with local community representatives and stakeholders in Forres as well as engaging with local politicians to promote and provide information on the proposal. Two public exhibitions were undertaken, both resulting in a good turnout, with more public consultation to follow as part of the planning process.

Redco Milne directors Paul Gee and Malcolm Deans both welcomed the submission of the planning application.

"We believe our retail proposal achieves a balance of providing what the town desperately needs such as non food retailing units and national stores, while enhancing the already vibrant high street," they said. "We are pleased to submit our planning application today which has been shaped by the views of Forres residents. We hope the local community will acknowledge the changes that have been made following our public consultation programme which began in November last year."

The developers said that although there was support for a hotel initially, it had been down to a question of space, with various other sites for a hotel with conference facilities available elsewhere in Forres, but the common good land provided a better space for football ground and youth facilities.

"We received some comments regarding the decision to remove the hotel from the masterplan at our second exhibition," they added. "Our first public survey results showed a mixed response for the provision of a hotel in the area. We came to the decision to remove the hotel in light of this and in order to accommodate the provision of improved and new community facilities on the masterplan."

t.mclaren@forres-gazette.co.uk

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