Planning permission granted for Tulloch Homes to build 112 homes at Knockomie, Forres
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PLANNING permission for 112 homes in Forres has been granted.
Moray Council planners approved the building of 84 private and 28 affordable homes at the 7.6 hectare Knockomie site, on Grantown Road - the Tulloch Homes development will also include a network of footpaths and cycle paths, a playpark and landscaped public open space.
Chairman of the local authority’s planning and regulatory services committee, Councillor David Bremner, said: "Much-needed affordable homes are set to be provided by this development, and I’m pleased to see accessible units included in the plans.
"With the creation of native woodland areas within the public open spaces, and extensive planting of trees , hedging, shrubs and wildflowers across the site, this will become an attractive and welcoming place to live for current and future residents of Forres."
The homes will be a mixture of one-bed flats, and two, three and four-bed houses. Nine of the private homes will be bungalows, to offer accessible living.
Streets within the development have been designed to naturally slow traffic down, and the site will feature a large attractive open space, village green and woodland backdrop. This means that 37 per cent of the site area will form publicly-accessible green space - almost double the 20 per cent minimum required by Moray’s planning policy.
Developer obligations are being sought towards primary education, healthcare, and sport and recreation facilities.
Local councillor Aaron McLean was pleased to see permission granted for the new development at the foot of the Knockomie Hotel but disappointed to hear that some developers' contributions have not been invested yet.
He said: "The placemaking audit was very good and the applicants have worked well to use the full potential of the site. We were also able to clarify the conditions on a road safety audit to look into the existing access point for the hotel.
"However, during questions it was disappointing to find out that a new crossing and lights at the junction of St Catherines Road and Orchard Road was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Work was due to start in June and would almost finished by now but we were told that it would now start next June."
