March 19 2008

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has confirmed that a complaint has been made against the Highland Council about their conduct in the planning of the Highland Housing Fair, and that an investigation is currently underway.

Speaking to architecturescotland.co.uk, SPSO spokeswoman Emma Gray said: “We can confirm that we received a complaint and that an investigation is underway and we would expect that the investigation’s findings would be out within the next few months.”

Work is due to go on site at Balyonie Braes to the south east of Inverness next month, leaving questions as to the project’s future if the complaint is upheld.

Gray continued: “At the end of the investigation we may make recommendations, depending on the findings. We may uphold the complaint or not, in either instance we may make recommendations to asking certain bodies to do certain things depending on what we’ve found and it will be up to them to carry this out.”

The project is due to be completed by Summer 2009 when there will be a temporary exhibition. The plots will then be redeveloped as affordable housing and community facilities.

The architects selected for the project include jm architects, NORD, Richard Murphy, Graeme Massie and Malcolm Fraser.

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