Invernessextensive (new) housing estates, bleak retail parks, decaying city centre Usually towns become dismal because of industrial and economic decline - which explains the nominations of towns in the Scottish Central Belt. Sometimes in new towns (Glenrothes?) the problem is a result of conceptual failure by architects. Such places deserve sympathy as much as criticism.
The pity is that Inverness has neither of those excuses. It is a beautiful town in a stunning natural location with significant historic (the castle, the Victorian town centre) and scenic (the river Ness) assets. Yet it has been scarred and made dismal by innumerable bad planning decisions and a lack of architectural imagination and vision. Even more shameful, then, that Inverness has been blighted despite being - on paper - a thriving, growing city. Not, perhaps, the MOST dismal town; but certainly the worst example of planning ineptitude, cynical development, and squandered opportunities. nairnbairn 
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