Councillors reject plans for Inverness restaurants

Three major food chains were interested in taking on three of the restaurants

Councillors have rejected plans for four new restaurants at a retail park in Inverness.

McDonald's, Frankie and Benny's and Chiquito's were interested in occupying three of the planned premises.

Inverness Estates had sought planning permission in principle from Highland Council for the sites at its Inverness Retail and Business Park.

Similar proposals were refused by the local authority and Scottish government in 2011.

Mike Smith, of the Inverness Business Improvement District, had urged councillors to turn down the new application.

He said the proposals could have a major impact on city centre businesses.

Highland Council officers had recommended that councillors grant permission.

Consent would have come with planning conditions covering matters such as landscaping, recycling and drainage.

The land is zoned for offices, but the developer asked that it be put to use for food outlets.