£70m golf and houses scheme to revitalise Nairn

A £70 MILLION development proposal for the western edge of Nairn aims to restore the former Victorian spa resort’s reputation as the “Brighton of the North”.

An outline planning application for a mixed-use development at Delnies has been lodged by the Cawdor Maintenance Trust. The plan includes redevelopment of farm steadings to provide tourist-related developments, including an 18-hole golf course.

The scheme also includes a tourism and heritage centre at Easter Delnies; an equestrian centre at Wester Delnies; hotel, spa and conference facilities at Hilton of Delnies and up to 300 houses along with community woodlands, an ecological centre, footpaths and cycle network.

The trust says that the residential element is essential in order to “cross-subsidise” the other aspects of the development. A spokesman said: "The 300 proposed housing units represents the minimum required to ‘cross fund’ the tourist and community facilities which form a key part of the vision for this part of Nairn. Although a proportion of the proposed housing is not allocated in the current adopted Local Plan, it forms part of an area designated for future housing development in the A96 Growth Corridor Development Framework Plan.”

Alan Farningham, lead consultant on the project and director of planning with the Farningham McCreadie Partnership, said: “This planned development is important for the ongoing and future economic development of Nairn and the Highlands, and will make a major contribution to the local economy and community.”