Honey firm fears impact of new homes on queen bees

A Highland honey business has raised concerns about how plans for up to 400 new homes on nearby land could affect queen bees.

Mark Card set up Loch Ness Honey Company 10 years ago, but said it was only over the last three years that farm and woodland at Milton of Culloden, Inverness, had been zoned for housing.

He said it threatened to disrupt the movement of queen bees, which lay all the eggs in the business's more than125 honey-producing hives.

Developer Springfield Properties said it was a responsible housebuilder, adding that it would be guided by an ecology survey during construction.

The company has sought planning permission in principle from Highland Council.

Planning officers have recommended that councillors give the go-ahead at a meeting next week.

However, that has caused concern at Loch Ness Honey over the impact on its Scottish black bees.

It expects to increase production to five tonnes of honey this year, but it is reliant on queen bees successfully breeding.

The business raises about 120 queens each year for use in its own hives, and for sale to beekeepers across the UK, including in Swansea, Bristol and Northampton.

Mated queens lay eggs that produce female worker bees, males for breeding - and future queens.

The firm has set up breeding stations triangulated within a mile of its hives.

Mr Card said: "The breeding programme would be affected by this housing development.

"The disturbance, and the noise level, in the environment would disrupt a queen's movements.

"A newly-mated queen might be put off from returning to the hive she left from, resulting in lost stock."

He added that the business would survive in some form, but it would be "very difficult" and he was concerned the role bees play in the environment had been ignored.

Culloden Community Council has also expressed concerns for bees in a response it has sent to Highland Council.

It acknowledged more affordable housing was needed, but claimed building at Milton of Culloden would also put additional pressures on already overstretched community facilities and lead to the loss of good quality farmland.

Springfield Properties managing director Dave Main said the company cared about the environment and planted native trees and shrubs to encourage biodiversity.

He said: "An ecology survey has been carried out at Milton of Culloden and we will take on the recommendations set out by the specialists.

"Similarly, should planning be approved, we will work with all neighbours during the delivery of these high quality homes to minimise any environmental impact."

The plans are due to go before the south planning applications committee on Wednesday.