A follow up to last week’s article which previewed this item on the agenda of Highland Council’s Nairnshire area committee. it had been rumbling on for a number of years and there was a strength of feeling among local residents.

I did not actually have to physically attend the meeting – like back in the pre-pandemic days – as it was all conducted online.

And I have to admit that the councillors were all very friendly and welcoming when I joined the meeting virtually.

Councillors agree to explore other uses for controversial Nairn site 

Related article: Is it finally D-Day for Sandown?

COUNCILLORS have agreed to take an area of land in Nairn off the market and explore uses other than housing for it. 

Members of Highland Council’s Nairnshire area committee yesterday agreed a recommendation not to sell Sandown lands, which once was subject to a bidding war among home developers. 

The 38-hectare site on either side of the A96 on the western outskirts of Nairn is owned by Nairn Common Good Fund. 

Other potential uses for the land to be explored now include food growing. 

For years controversy has surrounded future plans for the site which had been touted by the council as an “eagerly-awaited development of farmland”. 

Speaking at the meeting, a council official told councillors alternative sites in the town could be used for housing and it would be preferred to use Sandown for green space projects. 

Committee chairman Michael Green described the report before councillors, produced following public consultation, as “excellent” because it represented residents’ views. 

And deputy chairman Paul Oldham said: “I would welcome community growing opportunities.” 

The council officer told members options could include community-led agriculture schemes and expanding the existing allotments at the site. 

Councillor Barbara Jarvie said: “I agree with the chairman, it is an excellent report written in layman’s terms so the public can understand it clearly.” 

Nairn provost, Cllr Laurie Fraser, added: “It highlighted all the things I wanted highlighting.”

At one point 15 years ago the council had received offers of more than £14 million for the land, but although a deal was struck it was later rescinded when the developer failed to get planning permission.

A valuation in October 2020 estimated the land to be worth between £6 million and £7 million.

Two public consultations were held by the council between November 2020 and January this year and the results were made public last week, the report noting strong community concern relating to Sandown and its future use.

The report, by ward manager Lewis Hannah and common good officer Sara Murdoch, stated analysis took into account all the feedback received during both consultations, with the recommendations based on aggregated feedback.

The report outlined a number of next steps for the land, stating: “Options to establish further community growing opportunities on the Sandown Lands field are explored through a feasibility study, which will include further engagement with the community.”

The proposed sale of land did not include allotment gardens or a parcel of land for extension of the gardens. If the land was sold, then the money would have been available for investment in other Common Good assets and community priorities in Nairn.

The article as it appeared on the Inverness Courier website: Sandown land will not get housing after members of Highland Council’s Nairnshire area committee agree to take it off the market and explore alternative uses for the site

From The Inverness Courier and the Nairn edition on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.