New homes being planned for Breadalbane Hotel site
A new housing development is being planned on the site of a famous hotel from the past.
The proposed 15-house development is on the site of the former Breadalbane Hotel situated to the west end of Kildonan overlooking the bay known as Porta Buidhe or yellow port.
The popular hotel closed in 2007 and at the time planning consent was granted for the demolition of the existing hotel buildings and the erection of 10 houses on the site. Demolition of the hotel buildings commenced in 2008/2009. However, as a consequence of the economic recession at that time, the works were suspended and planning permission has since lapsed.
The site lies heavily overgrown with the only building remaining, the rundown house attached to the former hotel.
The new application which is under consideration by planning officials at North Ayrshire Council is in the names of Hamish Walker and Derek Callaghan, the latter thought to be former owner of the hotel who was behind the earlier housing plan.
According to a planning support statement sent to the planners, the site extends to around 5,700 sq m and is fronted to the south by the main public road which runs through Kildonan with the shore and sea beyond. To the north, the land rises steeply with trees and agricultural lands. The site itself has a general and gradual incline from the road frontage to the rear. Views from the site are predominantly to the south across the sea towards Pladda with Ailsa Craig in the distance.
Planning consent was obtained in 2008 for the demolition of the hotel and the redevelopment of the site with 10 large detached and semi-detached dwelling houses. Following background inquiries, the applicants have now determined that there is a greater need for more attainable houses of two and three bedrooms in the housing market. The architectural brief was to provide a design layout which was sympathetic to the local area in architectural style and character with a selection of house styles and layouts and which would appeal to all age groups. The houses would also be built to a high quality standard with low carbon footprint.
This led to the creation of a ‘courtyard’ layout with the formation of two distinct terraced rows of houses each running east to west and a frontage orientation to the south optimising not only the sun path but also the views towards the sea.
In support of the application, it is stated that adjacent to the site are a mix of developments in style and use. To the east is The Keys, a modern housing development of approximately 15 detached houses, and to the west a mix of single detached dwelling houses of modern and more traditional design.
The applicants also accept there is no public sewerage system within the village of Kildonan.
It is proposed that a private bio treatment plant and filter system would provide foul drainage treatment to the development with surface water treatment carried out in accordance with SUDS regulations. Both system outfalls would be taken to the sea in compliance with SEPA regulations and recommendations.
The planning application is currently under consideration by planners.