Nairn
Town Centre Mini-Charrette
30th April – 1st May 2014
Development Context: policy
• Nairn Town Centre Development Brief (2011)
• A96 Corridor Development Framework (2007)
• Nairn South Strategic Masterplan (2013)
• Sandown Development Brief (2012)
• Inner Moray Firth proposed Local Development Plan (2013)
• Highland Wide Local Development Plan (2012)
• Nairnshire Local Plan (2000)
Development Context: master plans
• In response to expansion pressure/ potential in Nairn:
– NICE Town Centre Action Plan
– A96 Corridor Masterplan (including a new town between
Nairn and Inverness)
– Nairn South (319 housing units and associated
infrastructure)
– Delnies and Sandown (to be developed considering each
other)
A96 Corridor Development Framework
Masterplan for the
A96 overarches
proposed
developments for
Nairn, including:
•4,629 residential
units
•78,000 sq m of
business space
•50,000 sq m of
industrial space
•5,000 jobs
•7,000 sq m of retail
space
•2 district centres
•18,000 sq m of
schools
•3 hotels
•165Ha of open
space
Nairn Town Centre, Regeneration Area
NICE Town Centre Plan - Masterplan
The Masterplan
includes:
•Residential
•Retail
•Office
•Food/Drink
•Leisure
•Public amenities
•Transport
improvements
Public Consultation
• Two public consultations used to guide the Charrette:
– Enquiry by Design, led by the Princes Trust as part of
the Nairn South development process
– NICE survey issued prior to the Charrette to gain
insight from members and locals
Enquiry by Design Findings
Strengths
Weaknesses
Visions
The natural setting
The A96 Corridor
River Nairn
Railway as a barrier
Resolve the A96
Corridor traffic issues
Town Centre
Town Centre in
disrepair
Traditional
neighbourhoods
Fishertown and the
Harbour
Uniqueness of Nairn
Loss of Nairn’s
uniqueness
Provide better access
across railway
Revitalise the town
centre
Enhance Nairn’s
uniqueness
Improve networks of
parks and open space
NICE Survey Results
Property Market Review
• Housing
• Retail
• Employment
• Leisure
Housing
Affordable Housing
24
24 units at Lochloy
(mix of council and
housing
association)
16
16 units at former
bus station (all
affordable units,
within town centre)
Market Housing
– Large amount of private housing has already been built and is proposed around
the Kingsteps area
– 300 units at Nairn South refused and being appealed
Affordable requirement and housing market recovery (including retirement) are
likely to revive development pressures in Nairn
Retail
Range of national and independent retailers:
– M&Co
Recent Deals
Size
(sq.m)
–
RS McColl
Address
–
Boots
116-118
80
High Street
Private individual
–
Semi-Chem
67 High
Street
485
Leased to Nickel &
Dime
1-3
Leopald
Street
Unknown
Sold to Kilpatrick
Property Group
80 High
Street
46
Leased to Nairn
Laundry
–
The Flower Shop
–
Strachan’s the Newsagent
–
Clarks of Nairn
–
Nairn Bookshop.
High Street has struggled as nationals have disinvested; attracting new investment but more likely
local businesses
Comments
Retail
Recent Closures
Vacancy/Availability
Size
(sq.m)
– Tradeway (March 7th 2014)
Address
– Blockbuster
24-30 High
222
St
Previously occupied
by DE Shoes
– WW Brown Butchers
3B High St 139
Previously occupied
by Burnett and Forbes
– Ross Outdoors
123-125
High St
Previously occupied
by Ross Outdoor
– Cumfy Carpets
– Victoria Wine
– DE Shoes.
Unknown
Comments
Retail
Supermarkets
– Somerfield bought
over by Co-op in
2008, recently
refurbished in 2010
– £20m Sainsbury’s
recently constructed
in 2011
Employment
Majority of offices in Town Centre or at Balmakeith Business
Park:
– High Street has c. 22 units
– Balmakeith Business Park has c. 13 units
– Minority of offices in surrounding streets within the Town
Centre
Low / local demand for employment property in Nairn due to
proximity to Inverness
Employment
Office Vacancy/Availability
Address
60-62 King
Street
64 King
Street
Barron
House, 86-88
High Street
Unit 3, 3
Church
Street
Wellington
Gallery,
Lodgehill
Road
Unit 8A2,
Balmakeith
Business
Park
Size
(sq.m)
Comments
310
4 units in total
23
Small office unit
697
Proposal to convert to
residential units.
Small office unit
32
183
Small office unit
Office space within
industrial estate
Industrial
Vacancy/Availability
Address
Store and
workshop,
Church
Street
Unit 2,
Church
Street
Unit 8A1,
Balmakeith
Business
Park
Unit 9B
Balmakeith
Industrial
Estate
6 Water
Lane
Size
(sq.m)
Comments
102
Small unit
74
Small unit
183
Previously occupied
by Moray Firth
Precision Engineering
194
Small unit on estate
46
Small unit
Employment
Recent Office Deals
Address
Size
(sq.m)
Comments
Barron House, 86-88
High Street
480
Sold in June 2013
Recent Office Investment Deals
Address
Size
(sq.m)
Comments
10B Tom Semple
Road, Balmakeith
Industrial Estate
311
Investment, occupied by Moray College UHI.
Recent Industrial Deals
Address
5-6 Tom Semple
Road, Balmakeith
Industrial Estate
15a-15b Tom Semple
Road, Balmakeith
Industrial Estate
Size
(sq.m)
Comments
604
Sold to T.O.M. Airdrie Ltd
466
Previously occupied by NDS Animal Feeds
Leisure
• Nairn has 10 hotels and 28 B&B’s and Guest Houses.
• No deals are recorded in Nairn since 2008.
• More leisure property becoming available than there are
deals being made.