Heritage and Community Centre

Back Community Council are seeking planning permission to construct a heritage and community centre at the site of the former Back School.

The site is currently a base for Comann Eachdraidh Sgire a’ Bhac.

It houses a community polycarbonate tunnel, shed, temporary office, and exhibition space.

The community council is now seeking consent to build a two-storey facility.

Glasgow-based architects, BARD, have won the design commission.

Crown thinning and lifting

Planning permission is being sought for the crown thinning and lifting of a sycamore tree at the rear of 43 Matheson Road, Stornoway. Consent is required as the property is in the Stornoway Conservation Area.

The applicant, Donnie Maclean, of the same address, wishes to thin the tree, reduce its height and width to allow more light into the neighbouring property on Leverhulme Road, reduce the volume of leaves in autumn, and increase the tree’s longevity and overall health as a result of the crown thinning and crown lifting.

Instal WC

Calanais Visitor Centre has applied for planning permission to instal a two-cubicle WC unit to help cope with visitor numbers during the centre’s refurbishment.

It is proposed to instal the toilet unit adjacent to the existing car park.

It is planned to retain the toilet unit after the refurbishment work is completed.

In their design statement, Urras nan Tursachan state 2023 is set to see a large increase in visitor numbers to Lewis and Harris, with an expected 60,000 visitors from cruise ships alone.

“This increase in cruise volumes is taking place against a backdrop of a general trend of increasing visitor numbers. Calanais Visitor Centre is no longer able to cope with the volumes visiting the site, and Urras nan Tursachan (UnT) are planning a large-scale refurbishment to provide facilities better suited to increasing visitor volumes,” they state.

However, Urras nan Tursachan plans to install the toilet unit to ensure an excellent visitor experience. It also pointed out that retaining the new toilet unit separate from the Visitor Centre will allow it to remain open when the visitor centre is closed and help address the need for more public toilets on the West Side circular, which the Outer Hebrides Visitor Infrastructure Plan has highlighted.

Erect a house

Planning permission is being sought to erect a house and detached garage at 39E Newmarket.

The applicants are Alison Macaskill and Ben Smith of 97 Newmarket. They wish to build a four-bedroom bungalow on a 1400-square-metre plot.

Erect a polytunnel

The Comhairle has received a prior notification regarding a proposed polycarbonate tunnel at 15 Portvoller, Point.  The applicant, Catherine Fish, of the same address, wishes to instal a 5.3 x 4-metre polycrub to grow fruit and vegetables.

Erect a polytunnel

A prior notification has been received by the Comhairle for the erection of a polytunnel at 3 Shieldinish, Lochs.

The applicant, JM Macleod, of the same address, plans to instal a 9 x 4-metre polytunnel for horticulture use.