4. LANDWARD AREA Opportunities Are Shown Below Under the (G) Gills 150 Appropriate General Policy
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4. LANDWARD AREA opportunities are shown below under the (g) Gills 150 appropriate general policy. (h) Huna 150 (i) Raggra 100 - 150 Housing (j) Thrumster 100 - 150 (k) Westend, John O’Groats 100 - 150 1. The Council will favour rehabilitation and re-use for residential purposes of the many Minimum spacing distances may be varied in the vacant dwellings and other traditional buildings event of a demonstrable need for social or throughout the Caithness countryside, amenity housing that is unable to be met in particularly where services are readily available. nearby clustered settlements [H3]. Assistance towards rehabilitation and repair may be available from the Council, Scottish Homes 5. In the following settlements with and the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs capacity for infill development or expansion: Department through the Empty Homes Initiative, (a) Ackergillshore the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust (b) Canisbay or the Agricultural Business Improvement (c) Dunnet, where significant development has Scheme. taken place to the west in recent years. This has led to traffic problems on the road to The Landward Area covers the largest proportion Under Primary Policy PP1 the Council will Dwarwick pier and altered the settlement of the Local Plan area with the exception of the favour new housing development: pattern. To meet possible demand further ten main settlements of Castletown, Dunbeath, land is needed in the village and potential Halkirk, Keiss, Lybster, Reay, Scrabster, Thurso, 2. In General Countryside Areas. sites are shown on the proposals Map. This Watten and Wick, which are covered in Sections includes a 1.4 ha. site for comprehensive 5 to 14. 3. In the Fragile Countryside Areas of the development not exceeding 15 houses at the Altnabreac and Dunbeath / Latheron Settlement east end of the Dwarwick Pier road with its The Council will apply General Policies PP1 to 4 Zones. appropriate widening. Development is throughout the Landward Area as shown on the restricted to the west of this site along the Proposals Map. Under Policies PP2, 3 and 4 a 4. In the Dispersed Townships indicated in pier road (see 11d). degree of restriction is applied depending upon the table below, subject to the specified spacing (d) Glengolly (limit of 5 houses) the nature and severity of the development between dwellings: (e) John O’Groats constraint, be it for servicing, amenity, nature (f) Reiss conservation or public safety reasons. A high LOCATION SPACING (g) Sarclet quality of design for new and extended buildings, (Metres) (h) Staxigoe in keeping with the character of traditional rural (a) Auckengill 100 - 150 (i) Thrumster buildings, is expected. More specific guidance (b) Duncansby 100 - 150 (j) Westfield for the siting and design of new houses is (c) East Clyth 100 General Housing Policy H also applies to these settlements. indicated in the General Policies Annex. Site and (d) East Mey 150 area specific policies, proposals and development (e) Freswick 100 - 150 (f) Freswick South 150 18 Under Primary Policy PP2 the Council will General Housing Policy H also applies to these favour new housing development: settlements. 6. In the Dispersed Townships indicated in 8. At Mill and Mains of Forss the Council the table below, subject to overcoming the will favour conversion and/or reuse of redundant servicing constraints and meeting the specified buildings for permanent residential and/or spacing between dwellings: holiday letting accommodation. Protection of the setting of listed buildings and woodland, and LOCATION SPACING CONSTRAINT avoiding conflict with the continued operation (Metres) of the farm, are also important considerations. (a) Achavar 150 Water supply Under Primary Policy PP3 the Council will (b) Achavrole 150 Water supply presume against housing development: (c) Achow 150 – 200 Water supply (d) Balnabruich 100 Water supply 9. In the hinterland around the towns of Photo: Vacant house at Mybster Wick and Thurso, as indicated on the Proposals (e) Barrock 100 – 150 Poor sub-soil Map and Maps HAT 1 and 2. Exceptions will drainage only be made where: (f) Brough 150 Poor sub-soil Minimum spacing distances may be varied in the • a house is essential for the management of drainage event of a demonstrable need for social or land and associated family purposes (see (g) Borgue – 100 Water supply amenity housing that is unable to be met in General Policies Annex); Ramscraigs nearby clustered settlements [H3]. • social housing is required to meet (h) Green Hill 150 Water supply demonstrated local affordable needs that (i) Houstry 125 Water supply 7. In the following settlements with limited cannot be met within settlements; or capacity for infill housing: • development involves a conversion of a (j) Keiss 150 Poor sub soil (a) Achvarasdal - sub-soil limitations. traditional building or redevelopment of a drainage (b) Barrock – drainage/sub-soil limitations. ruinous dwelling. (k) Mid Clyth 150 Poor sub soil (c) Bower – drainage. All proposals will be subject to adequate services drainage (d) Brough – drainage/sub-soil limitations. being available and siting and design (l) Mybster 100 Poor sub soil (e) Burrigill/Forse – water supply. considerations. drainage (f) Latheron – water supply. (m) Occumster 100 Water supply (g) Latheronwheel – water supply. (The 10. Sensitive Areas as defined under (n) Smerral 125 – 150 Water supply suitability of land to the south west for General Policy PP3 in the General Policies longer term development requires to be Annex. Exceptions will only be made where a (o) Ulbster 100 Poor sub-soil considered in discussion with land owners drainage house is essential for the management of land and the wider community). and associated family purposes. (p) Upper 125 Water supply (h) Newport – water supply. Lybster (i) Shebster – water supply. 11. In the Dispersed Townships indicated in (q) West 100 Road (j) Spittal – water supply. the table below, until the necessary Dunnet (k) Westerdale – sub-soil limitations. 19 improvements are carried out. Thereafter any Mey Drainage - following a new system 18. The preparation of a programme of development should be adequately sited in programmed for 2003/4, potential improvements to the various small harbours accordance with the spacing indicated. will exist for the comprehensive around the coast. There is a need to prioritise servicing and development of 2.3 improvements based on safety issues, heritage LOCATION SPACING CONSTRAINT ha. of land north of the Castle Inn and tourism potential. (Metres) for 20 - 25 houses. (a) Hill of Forss 100 Drainage Newtonhill Drainage; Roads – development 19. The renovation of existing buildings for (b) Rattar/ 100 –150 Drainage allowed only after connection to self catering tourist accommodation: Scarfskerry Wick system and road (a) at Crosskirk Bay, where limited additional (c) Swinney Hill 150 Water supply, improvements development might be possible subject to drainage Scarfskerry Drainage avoiding impact upon the setting of nearby (d) Dunnet - 100 Road historical/archaeological features; Dwarwick Pier (b) at the former lighthouse keepers’ houses at 14. In all cases a strong presumption will Road Dunnet Head and Holburn Head; also be maintained against development on land (e) West of Lybster 75 – 100 Water supply, (c) on the foreshore at Berriedale; and immediately outwith the defined settlement (d) the derelict properties to the north of drainage boundaries. Lybster, which may also be suitable for permanent housing. Minimum spacing distances may be varied in the Business / Industry event of a demonstrable need for social or amenity housing that is unable to be met in 20. At Dunnet 0.2ha is identified for tourist 15. The Council generally supports small nearby clustered settlements [H3]. related commercial uses. Land should be business development or additions to existing reserved to the north to ensure a safe visibility indigenous industries in the Landward Area in 12. That creates new ad hoc clusters of splay for access. accordance with Structure Plan Policy B7, housing or adds to the Housing Groups in provided there is no adverse impact upon Appendix IX. In exceptional cases there may be adjacent uses and the development can be limited opportunities to add to these groups, and adequately serviced. only then if their appearance is enhanced or infrastructure problems are remedied. Under Primary Policy PP1 the Council 13. Within the following settlements until favours the following: service deficiencies are eased or removed: 16. The development of an Archaeological LOCATION CONSTRAINT Visitor Centre at Thrumster. Dixonfield/ Road widening and footpath Duncanshill provision towards Thurso. 17. Subject to suitable servicing and Gerston Access landscaping, land to the north of the garage at Farm Road, the former station yard in Thrumster has by Halkirk potential for business, commercial and light Photo: Lighthouse and former keepers’ Gillock Drainage industrial development. houses at Dunnet Head 20 21. At John O’Groats interest has been be assisted by the availability of the highly skilled shown in the past in the development of a workforce in the area. The Council and Caithness Visitor Centre. Planning permission has been and Sutherland Enterprise wish to explore the granted for two Centres, although development scope for developing a business and industrial has not commenced. The Council considers that park including use of the former airfield once the the provision of a Visitor Centre at John need for facilities associated with O’Groats is essential for the development of decommissioning becomes more apparent. In the tourism in Caithness. Both sites are identified meantime significant early tree planting around for a Visitor Centre (see Framework Plan). the perimeter of the airfield may be appropriate in order to create an attractive landscape setting for 22. On land to the east of the existing longer term development. industrial units at John O’Groats 0.1ha is allocated for business uses. Decommissioning activities, including recruitment of staff, and prospects for The following areas are identified under diversification would be enhanced by: • more private housing to rent and purchase in Primary Policy PP2: for decommissioning.