Cabins bid considered
Park bosses to look at plans
Plans to create a new holiday park in the Spittal of Glenshee have been called in by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Glasgow-based developers Yorsipp Ltd had earlier this month submitted a planning application in principal to Perth and Kinross Council to remove the existing fire-damaged Spittal of Glenshee Hotel, and in its place build 18 new twobedroom holiday cabins. The proposed holiday park near the MacThomas Bridge north of Blairgowrie would also include a central hub building, which would house a reception, restaurant and bar, as well as a car park.
However, the park authority has “called-in” the planning application to assess the proposals themselves.
Should the development be approved, it could provide accommodation for tourists to both the nearby Glenshee Ski Centre and the scenic snow road route within the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park, and therefore the authority believe it is important to look at the application for themselves.
The park authority said: “The proposal is considered to raise issues of significance to the collective aims of the national park in respect of the provision of tourism accommodation and facilities close to the A93 scenic route outside a settlement; social and economic wellbeing; and landscape impacts in relation to conserving and enhancing the landscape.”
A number of consultations have already taken place on the proposed site by Perth and Kinross Council.
Consultees have already recommended a protected species survey on the site to make sure there will be no adverse impact to the natural environment under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The council’s trading standards have also inspected the site’s underground fuel storage tanks, after complaints were made about health and safety. They concluded they have no objections but add there is a “low-level risk” from the remaining parts of the fuel storage system on site.
Environmental health has also asked the developers behind the proposal to maintain and repair the existing private water supply to the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel site should planning permission be granted.