Jobs boost if hotel plan goes ahead

Residents living in Pitlochry are invited to attend a public exhibition next week on plans to build a chain hotel in the town.

Riverstone Developments wants to build a Premier Inn on a piece of land off Bridge Road, next to Pitlochry Recreation Ground.

It is expected to create 35 jobs.

The developers will be holding an exhibition on their plans on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 in Pitlochry Town Hall.

At the exhibition, members of the public can find out more about what is being proposed, and ask the developers questions.

The proposed hotel will have 105 bedrooms and will include an on-site restaurant.

Riverstone Developments’ development director John Ramsey wrote to Pitlochry and Moulin Community Council to invite them to the public consultation.

The letter said: “The proposed multi-million pound investment will redevelop the site into a bespoke Premier Inn hotel, with on-site restaurant and parking facilities.

“The new hotel will provide a long-term use for the site, create approximately 35 new jobs in a variety of roles and will provide a different style of guest accommodation to what is currently available within the town. “Riverstone Developments has been discussing the proposals with officers at Perth and Kinross Council for a number of months.

“These discussions, and a thorough understanding of the constraints of the site, have informed the proposed design of the hotel.

“The style of the proposed building, and the choice of materials, reflect the setting of the site and the surrounding area.”

The letter added: “We will have the plans on display and more information about what we would like to bring to Pitlochry in terms of investment support for local tourism and the economy, year-round jobs, high-quality and sustainable design, and a commitment to being a positive contributor to the local community.”

There has been talk of a chain hotel moving into the Highland Perthshire town for a number of years.

Only last year Travelodge announced it had intentions to move into Pitlochry.

And previous plans for a creating a chain hotel would have seen one created just off Atholl Road, covering areas such as Bank House and the Baker’s Oven unit.

The proposed site of the new Premier Inn off Bridge Road had previously been earmarked for a new supermarket.

Plans for Sainsbury’s to build a new store on the land had been given the go ahead by the Scottish Government in 2011, and at the time it was proposed the supermarket would open in 2012.

Cllr Mike Williamson, who represents Highland Perthshire at Perth and Kinross Council, said: “I welcome the opportunity the community will have to engage in the consultation for the proposed plans for the Premier Inn.

“I also welcome the fact there is the potential for 35 jobs in the local community, which will help the local economy.”