A Local Plan allocation has been achieved for Novar Estate, allowing a mixed use development of up to 80 houses along with business and community uses. The Estate aims to retain control of the project, rather than sell the site to a volume house builder, and is seeking to create a development of lasting quality.

Urban Animation is working with Neil Sutherland Architects to manage the delivery of the development. A project team is reviewing marketing, cost and servicing issues and an innovative approach to the design and layout is being promoted.

Houses will be constructed to high environmental standards from locally sourced materials, including timber grown and cut on Novar Estate. Opportunities for on-site renewable energy production will be maximised.

The design concept seeks to integrate the expansion area with the existing town as fully as possible, through considered positioning of through access routes, community facilities and business uses. Opportunities for small scale business use and home working within the housing units will be promoted through flexible design. The street pattern and architecture will blend the best of local, traditional design with contemporary excellence, drawing upon layout techniques found in the older, formally planned centre of Evanton.