The planning application for a new town at Tornagrain, between Inverness and Nairn, have been submitted to the Highland Council following more than two years of community consultation.

Developers Moray Estates appointed leading US planner Andres Duany to design the new town of around 5,000 homes.

His company DPZ is known for its unique approach aimed at involving local people in the design process.

DPZ started this consultation by holding a series of public workshops and presentations over 10 days in September 2006.

As Andrew Howard, Managing Director of Moray Estates, explained: "We aim to create a very special place - somewhere people want to live and work and which is sustainable in the long term. We were very impressed from the outset by Andres Duany and his firm, who are leading advocates of a return to traditional town planning and who have moved away from the approach which has led to sprawling suburbs with few facilities.

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"But it wasn't simply their design abilities that impressed - we were very enthusiastic about the way in which they involved the local community in the design process. This was particularly important to us."

More than 600 people attended the workshops and presentations during the charrette, which was followed by a further three public exhibitions, designed to take people through each stage of the panning application, as well as a number of meetings with local community councils and other interested parties. Each exhibition was made into a brochure, explaining changes that had been made to reflect comments from the local community, as well as dealing with technical and environmental issues emerging from the Environmental Impact Assessment.

The new community at Tornagrain will include almost 5,000 homes, around 50 hectares of parks and open spaces, five schools and other amenities including libraries, churches, healthcare facilities and community halls. Depending on planning permission, it is hoped building will start in 2013.

Interested parties can view the Tornagrain planning application, from Monday 19 January, at www.tornagrain-newtown.co.uk

(GK/JM)