Tornagrain – more detail on the planning
Cathy at the APT blog recently highlighted more information on the planned development at Tornagrain, by covering an article on an urban design blog which gave an architects view of the plans.
On the one hand, this is one of the most detailed coverage of the actual plans for Tornagrain I’ve seen so far and provided with plenty of context, so it’s certainly interesting to see what is actually planned for, why, and how.
It’s especially interesting to note the comment “the landowner has set out to acquire a traditional settlement with buildings of a traditional appearance” – why is it so difficult for the HC to apply a similar principle for expansion and development in Nairn and Inverness?
Perhaps fatally, though, one of the lead architects of the plans is referred to as: “the Tiger Woods of town planning”. Probably not the best comparison to make at present. 
However, both Cathy and nairnbairn take the original article to task:
Too often architects – and planners – are seduced by the detail of trendy concepts and distracted by pretty pictures of buildings, and then fail to look carefully at the context, location and function of the proposed development.
APTCynic views the architecture as a way of justifying that a significant proportion of the properties will be close together with very little space interior and exterior space.
Considering the development of the A96 corridor in the masterplan, I can’t help but think of a point (I think it was Cathy) raised some time ago – how will the development of Tornagrain impact growth at Inverness airport? After all, if that needs to expand in any way, have the existing plans for Torngrain made enough room to cover any reasonable eventuality?
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The idea of how we balance the use space is very important now with the issues of global warming and food security. We need to think about practicality and function more and more.
Tiny houses with no storage space may encourage us to buy less, but you will then have to fill them up with damp drying clothes if we are not using a tumble drier to save energy and the weather too damp or wet outside to put them on the line.
Working from home and / or needing space for a computer is also all part of our modern lifestyles.
It will certainly be a challenge.