Land 45M East Of Jacaranda Muir Of Ord

1. 1.The proposal fails to comply with NPF4 Policy 17 (rural housing), in that: • it is not suitably sited and designed to be in keeping with the character of the area; • the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposed house is essential to support the management of a rural business (Wellhouse Country Lodges); • it does not comply with any of the other list of acceptable development types in 17a); • it does not meet the 'housing group' requirements or 'local living' as per 17b); and • it is in an accessible rural area and not in a remote rural area so does not comply with the requirements of 17c).
2. 2.The proposal is located within a pressurised area, where there is a demand for commuter based housing. This is contrary to the aims of rural housing policies, since it will add to the suburbanisation of the countryside and is not linked to service provision. An additional house will further erode the rural nature of the area. Instead, development should be directed to existing settlement development areas, since these have the best existing access to community facilities, infrastructure, employment and other commercial opportunities, and environmental capacity to support that growth, and where infrastructure capacity exists at least cost to the public and private sector.
3. 3.The proposal is contrary to NPF4 Policies 17b), 13b), 15, and HwLDP Policies 28 and 56, since it will promote reliance on the private car and does not provide people with the opportunity to meet the majority of daily needs by sustainable transport means.
4. 4.The proposal is contrary to the provisions of Highland-wide Local Development Plan Policies 28 and 29, and NPF4 Policy 17a, since the proposal would lead to a discordant pair of houses of divergent design in an area where the prevailing development pattern is of single houses with their associated croft land. This fails to: • demonstrate sensitive siting in keeping with the local character; • demonstrate respect towards the local distinctiveness of the landscape; and • integrate into the existing pattern of development in the area in an acceptable manner.
5. 5.The proposed house would be viewed as alien in the surrounding landscape, failing to exhibit a design which integrates in an acceptable manner with other local development. This is contrary to HwLDP Policies 28 and 29, which require new development to make a positive contribution to the architectural and visual quality of the place, demonstrating sensitivity and respect towards the local distinctiveness of the landscape, architecture, design and layouts in their proposals.
6. 6.The proposal will impede the use of the remaining croft land along the west site boundary and to the rear of Jacaranda, since access will only be achievable on foot. This is contrary to the provisions of HwLDP Policy 47, which requires that development does not impede the use of the remaining croft land.
7. 7.The proposal is contrary to NPF4 Policy 1, in that it will result in reliance on the private car for transport needs, thus failing to demonstrate sufficient regard to the global climate and nature crises.

From the council's decision notice.

Date validated

6 January 2026