NICE Work!

TOWN CENTRE IDEAS BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE:

Design discussions, and longer-term thinking                                                                                                     

It has been a busy week for those interested in the future of Nairn and the site in the centre of town.    

  • Nairn in 3D – the design workshop

A design workshop, organised by Highland Council in response to requests from local residents, took place at the Courthouse on Monday 22 November.  William Gilfillan the Corporate Manager, who chaired the meeting, reminded those present that the exercise was to focus on the site owned by the Council and the adjacent Co-op property.  The Council’s intention remained to prepare a revised development brief for submission to the PED Committee in February 2011.  The workshop was introduced and organised by architects from the Inverness firm Thomas Munro. With the elected councillors for Nairn looking on, participants set out ideas and suggestions on working copies of the site-plans.  These were then projected on to a 3-dimensional display screen.  This prompted lively discussion about the size and location of new buildings, the extent of the public amenity space, how to take account of the vistas towards Viewfield and the Courthouse, and the possible uses of the Regal Bar site – either for a new landmark building or for a feature such as a statue.  The outcome reflected many of the ideas set out in the initial plans drawn up by the NICE working group.  The Council’s revised development brief will be presented to a Nairn Ward Forum on 26 January. Continue reading

Progress Report

WORKING GROUPS MAKING PROGRESS:

Highlights from the latest NICE meeting

The second NICE discussion-meeting took place on Thursday 18 Nov at the Nairn Sailing Club (and the group reiterated their grateful thanks to the Club for making the premises available).   The various working groups reported on progress so far, and the group agreed on further action.  Among the main points…. Continue reading

A NICE Letter from Sandy

We are pleased to report that we have received a letter from Sandy Park in response to our request to extend the period of consultation on the Town Centre Development. This has now been extended to 1st Feb 2011. So instead of the normal 4 weeks of consultation there will now be 18. We are pleased that Sandy along with his colleagues expressed a desire, “to work with NICE to find a positive solution to our town centre.”

Sandy also confirmed that there will be a workshop on the 22nd November where all interested parties can contribute to the debate. This will be followed at a later date by a Ward Forum where the Development Brief will be presented. This outcome is a recognition that Highland Council, “recognises the strength of public feeling in Nairn that all interested parties should work closely together to get the best possible solution.”

So please make sure you contribute to the debate either directly to Highland Council, at the workshop on the 22nd, or through NICE. Of course do bear in mind that, as William Gilfillan said at the last Ward Forum, all our ideas have to be “realistic and affordable.”

A NICE beginning

NAIRN TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT PLANS:

Community mobilises to consider alternative options

  • Local organisation formed:  all residents invited to participate
Nairn Development

The Buildings in Question

Following Highland Council’s publication of a draft Development Brief for that part of the town centre site for which the Council is responsible adjacent to the properties now owned by the Co-op, local Nairn residents have formed a group to look at options for the redevelopment of this King Street town centre site.  At a meeting on Thursday 28 October some thirty concerned residents of Nairn, including representatives of all three Community Councils, the Association of Nairn Businesses, Visit Nairn Tourism Association and a number of interested individuals, decided to establish a Company Limited by Guarantee entitled “Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise” (NICE).  Three volunteer founder-directors** have been appointed, and all residents of the town of Nairn are invited to join.  Continue reading