Embedded Files
17th September 2026 - Email and Agenda for the Design workshop on the 28th September issued by Stephen Tucker the independent facilitator
This summary is based on the agenda and objectives set out in the meeting email circulated to the Project Group in advance of the visioning workshop on 28 September.
This second workshop represents the next stage in the MCA process. The facilitator's briefing email notes that a number of issues remain for discussion following the first workshop and that, while some high-level design ideas already exist, the principal aim is to consider the kind of place that the Essich Road development could create. Building on the opportunities and constraints work already undertaken, discussion will explore how the site's character, landscape, movement network, gateways and public spaces might respond to the area's topography, rural setting and relationship with existing communities.
Through a series of structured discussion and tracing-paper exercises, participants will consider the site as a whole before examining the higher land adjoining Essich Road and the lower western area in more detail. Key topics include character, connectivity, active travel, placemaking, access, landscape, drainage, flood constraints and open space. The purpose of the workshop is to help inform the emerging design vision for the site and identify how different parts of the development could function, connect and relate to one another as the masterplanning process progresses.
15th September 2026 – The Essich & Torbreck Community Association met to discuss how the community wanted to feed into the Council meeting on the 28th September to shape the development.
It was agreed that the community’s input to the meeting would include:
· Understanding how the development plan would deal with areas of the site where the landowner has not been agreed for the land to be developed.
· Understanding how sewage from the site would be dealt with.
· Understanding of how items that are agreed during the development process can be enforced along with how we can ensure they are delivered at appropriate times and not at the end of the build out.
· Ensuring the development includes:
o Inclusion of comprehensive active travel routes. (schools, shops, doctors etc)
o A good mix of building styles with no properties to exceed 1.5 stories, sedum roofs.
o Dry stone walls around the site to be kept / restored.
o Attractive entrance to the site
o Ensure the development does not detract for current properties that border the site.
o Building of a multi-use community centre this should include play park / recreational area and shelters for carers.
o Doctors / pharmacy
o Safe road crossings to be introduced for all wildlife that currently crosses the road to the site.
o Reduced speed limit
o Dog walking area
o Planting of native trees around the site to replace the elm trees that have died on the Essich Road boundary.
o Sufficient parking to avoid parking on the streets.
o Bus stop with turning space.
7th September 2026 - First meeting of the Essich Road MCA project group focusing on constraints and opportunities.
The meeting heard presentations from ETCA, Tulloch and the Council. There was not much detail on ‘opportunities’ and the only ‘constraint’ with a potential solution that looks positive was flooding: where the ‘SUDS’ used to hold excess rainwater could be exploited to create a wetland wildlife corridor along the lowest part of the site.
View The Council's notes from the meeting here
Note of Essich Road MCA Project Group Meeting 1 - Opportunities Constraints.docx3rd September 2026 - Essich & Torbreck Community Association meet to agree presentation for the first project group meeting
The committee used the Place Standard tool to consider opportunities and constraints, but found it to be geared towards looking at urban environments rather than ‘green field’ developments. It was agreed that Marcus and George would attend the council meetings on behalf of the ETCA.
Watch Our Presentation Here
25th August 2026 - Highland Council Issues the agenda for the first project group meeting.
Highland Council email
Community representatives are asked to consider and come prepared to talk about what they think about their local area (see Agenda Item 3 below). There’s a national “Place Standard tool” that can be used to organise your thoughts if that’s helpful. A PDF version of that online Tool is attached if you prefer to make pen and paper notes of your views.
AGENDA for Workshop One: Essich Road, Inverness: Opportunities and Constraints
Welcome and introductions (5 mins)
A quick introduction to the MCA process and workshop one, Opportunities and Constraints (5 mins)
Masterplanning Team Presentations 30 mins – Council (10 mins), Tulloch (10 mins) and Community Representatives (10 mins)
Key questions / discussion points and drawing exercise (45 mins)
Connectivity, Traffic and Transport (8-10 minutes)
Drainage (8-10 minutes)
Mixed Use: Services and Facilities (8-10 minutes)
Open Space, Landscape and Biodiversity Strategy (8-10 minutes)
Key development areas (8-10 minutes)
Areas of focus for next Design Vision Workshop meeting (5 mins)
21st August 2026- Highland Council issue the timetable for the project group meetings
Highland Council email
Stephen Tucker who most of you have now met, will facilitate the 4 of the 6 meetings for each site that will focus on design, layout and other aspects of masterplanning. The other 2 meetings are to deal with technical issues relevant to each site. For Ardersier, this is likely to be transport and environmental impact issues and for Essich Road flood risk and transport issues but we are open to community representative suggestions on what specific issues require expert input and discussion by each Group.
7th Sep - Opportunities & Constraints (online)
28th Sep - Design Vision Workshop (in-person)
5th Oct - Technical Matters Discussion (online)
19th Oct - Technical Matters Discussion (online)
2nd Nov - Illustrative Masterplan Workshop (in-person)
23rd Nov - Final Masterplan Presentation (online)
17th August 2026 - The Essich & Torbreck Community Association representatives meet with Stephen Tucker the Independent facilitator appointed by the Highland Council.
This was very much a ‘get to know’ you session to discuss the forthcoming process .
7th August 2026 - Highland Council Issue the terms of reference for the MCA project group and start the process for the Project Group meetings.
The ETCA flagged-up concerns about the tight schedule restricting our ability to feedback to and consult the community and about the independence of technical reports.
Highland Council email
If you need a recap then all the previous material is available.
You may be aware that the Highland Council has already made a decision on the principle of whether the MCA should go ahead as detailed in the Report to Full Council on 14 May 2026. It’s a very long report which covers other matters but Appendix 5c (PDF pages 77-91) and Appendix 6c (PDF pages 94-95) contain the relevant detail for the Essich Road, Inverness MCA site. In summary, councillors decided, in light of community concerns, to reduce the maximum housing capacity from 400 to 315 units, and agreed the list of matters that this next stage must address.
The next stage, is for the community, Council and development partner to coauthor a suite of documents similar to a major scale planning application in line with what has already been agreed in Appendix 6c of the above committee report. The legal jargon for this suite of documents is a Proposed Masterplan Consent Area Scheme (PMCAS).
This co-authoring will be undertaken via a series of monthly Project Group meetings. We’ve defined the role of the community representatives at these monthly meetings in a Terms of Reference document which is attached and outlines how you will be able to input to and influence the PMCAS. In simple terms, you will be invited to monthly Project Group meetings to make suggestions about and debate the detail of how the land should be developed.
To ensure that community representatives get a fair input, an independent Facilitator (Stephen Tucker) has been appointed to lead discussions at 4 of the monthly Project Group meetings. Stephen would like to meet with you to introduce himself and wonders if you have any availability on the evening of 17th August or morning of 18th August? He would be happy to come to a venue of your choosing.
View the Terms of Reference Here
Finalised Draft of Monthly Project Group Terms of Reference.pdfPage updated
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