WATCH: Culloden Battlefield development OK'd after councillors "pressed the wrong button"

Approved plans for 16-new homes at Culloden Battlefield are in limbo after two-SNP councillors "pressed the wrong button" during a vote which which gave the developer permission to start building.

Highland councillor Andrew Jarvie told MFR News: "They thought the amendment was to refuse planning permission, because that's usually how it goes, and the motion was to approve, but in this case it was the other way round.

"So during the debate there was some confusion, and unfortunately both the SNP colleagues pressed the wrong button, and voted to approve it instead of decline."

The botched vote has sparked a re-vote by a different committee being scheduled for early May, and Kirkwood Homes has been told to suspend its project until then.

It's given renewed hope to campaigners fighting the controversial development, who have even threatened to chain themselves to diggers when constructrion begins.

But councillor Jarvie says the local authority can only keep delaying construction until his colleagues are happier with the design.

He said: "When the application was first put in, it was first heard by the planning committee end of 2013, and at that point they refused planning permission because it was on the Culloden Battlefield inventory site.

"Shortly thereafter the applicant, Tulloch Homes back then, appealed it to a Scottish Government Reporter, and they overturned the decision.

"They susequently sold the site to Kirkwood Homes who now have it, so they put in this application which we initially heard last month, and I moved that we should defer it for them to re-design it, because it really wasn't in fitting with what was a conservation area.

"At the time the committee was minded to not really see any houses there at all given its previous stance, but once the Scottish Government Reporter overturns the decision, there's no going back on it, so unless the Scottish Government recalls that decision, we have to just accept there are going to be 16-homes there.

"So this was all just about getting the right design for the area as best we can, because we're backed into the corner."

The luxury homes would be within 400-yards of the official war graves at the historic site, and 100,000-people from around the world have signed various online petitions against the plans.

Following the now voided vote, Kirkwood Homes issued a statement: 'We welcome today’s decision as it allows our plans to take a step forward and bring our high-quality luxury homes to the area, as well as sustain and create jobs for local people.

'Our revised submission has been amended to reflect the requests of Highland Council and ensure that the homes are in keeping with, and considerate of the surrounding area.

'Throughout this process we have worked closely with Highland Council to ensure we comply fully with all their suggestions and amended our plans in line with their requirements.'

Conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland described the go-ahead for a development at Viewhill Farm - which has been suspended pending a re-vote - as a blow for the Culloden site.

Head of Policy, Diarmid Hearns told MFR News: "We strongly feel that this is the wrong development for Culloden and are deeply disappointed at the planning system’s failure to protect this important site from the threat of development.

"The Trust, the community, the local authority and many others with an interest in Culloden have made their views known. We do not appear to have been heard, however.

"This is very concerning, particularly in light of the proposals for a new Planning Bill, which if anything, would give people even less of a say on development in their local communities.

"Scotland’s historic sites and stunning landscapes could be lost forever. We need to make sure that the places which make Scotland so special get the protection they deserve."