Charity’s wedding marquee approval
A children’s hospice charity is being given the chance to turn an estate in Gartocharn into an exclusive world renowned wedding and events venue.
Bosses at Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), which runs Robin House in Balloch, were overwhelmed in 2020 after being handed 133-acre Ardoch Estate by philanthropist Peter Armitage, along with a further cash donation of £1m from his Ardoch Foundation.
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners have now granted conditional consent for an application by CHAS to diversify and intensify a training centre on the estate to include a wedding venue with a temporary marquee.
While still intending to cater for the estate’s traditional business base, the charity wants to add private gatherings and to continue to host weddings - but increase capacity for those from 60 to 150 guests with the use of marquees.
However, park planners have granted temporary permission for a period of three years along with a trial period for the marquee.
CHAS assumed full responsibility for the estate in July 2021.
However, it had told park planners that, while the estate is“a significant opportunity for the charity”, it is also mindful of the responsibilities associated with operating it and that it is a“major undertaking, requiring significant annual operating costs”.
In their decision, park planners said: “CHAS wishes to expand current activities in order to operate as a commercial venture.
“Consent is sought to intensify the existing use to allow for larger weddings. There is a current maximum capacity of 60 guests. The siting of a marquee would increase capacity to
150 guests. The existing capacity of 38 overnight guests will remain.
“The marquee will be sited when required during the months of April to September only.
“The nearest noise sensitive properties are located over 450 metres from the site. The edge of the settlement of Gartocharn is located approximately 500 metres west of the site with the core of the village approximately 900 metres.
“Given the rural location of the site where‘tranquility’is identified as a special landscape quality of the locality, it is considered necessary, given the uncertainty at this time as to the impacts of any noise nuisance and effectiveness of any noise mitigation measures, that a trial period is appropriate where the effects of amplified music, particularly into the evenings, can be monitored in practice.”
In documents submitted with the application, agents for CHAS had said as a unique facility within the“exclusive use”scottish hospitality industry, customers would be able to reserve Ardoch Estate with two key factors in mind - choosing a high calibre, quality venue and also supporting CHAS to achieve a sustainable means of securing revenue, therefore making a difference to the lives of children and their families across Scotland who require the charity’s support.