The drop-in event takes place on Thursday 29 February 2024 from 2.30pm until 6.30pm in the Youth Room at Forres House Community Centre.

The Dallas Dhu project is part of the Moray Growth Deal, and is being funded by Moray Council and the Scottish Government as part of its £7.5 million Housing Mix Delivery project to deliver up to 300 affordable homes across the region, including Elgin, Speyside and the Buckie coastal area.

At Dallas Dhu, together with Altyre Estate and Grampian Housing Association, Moray Council aims to deliver a carbon conscious, sustainable place with multi-functional outdoor spaces to encourage physical activity and food-growing, and which benefits mental health.

The exhibition will include further details on the design of the new homes, landscaping and infrastructure, and the student accommodation proposals within the approved masterplan. It follows on from the feedback received at the engagement session that took place on 24 January.

This next event invites individuals and groups interested in the innovation plots that will be available as part of the project to give feedback. The council and the design team behind the scheme, Fraser/Livingstone Architects, are looking to find out what people interested in the project are looking to build – from a tiny house or a terrace of co-housing to custom self-builds, anyone with a view is welcome to attend.

Speaking ahead of the event, chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “We have an opportunity with Dallas Dhu to really push the innovation side of house building and create a forward-looking, multi-generational community in the heart of Moray. The possibilities are almost endless and I’d encourage anyone with an interest in finding out more about this project to head along and get involved in the discussions about this exciting scheme.”

Robin Livingstone from Fraser/Livingstone Architects added: “We want to encourage the evolution of an inclusive community including growing families, singles, couples, and downsizers. Enabling individuals and groups to deliver homes built for the needs of residents is key to making that work.

“We see the potential to explore collaborative design principles within the house designs, the possibility of common spaces, shared landscaping and in the construction methods and environmental credentials.”

Members of the community are invited to go along on the day or respond with any comments to: localdevelopmentplan@moray.gov.uk.

Information can also be found, and feedback provided, online at: www.moray.gov.uk/dallasdhu, which will be available to view from the same day as the event and remain active until Thursday 7 March.

All comments made to the applicant are not representations to the planning authority, there will be an opportunity to make representations on any resultant application to the planning authority at a future stage of the process.