Council approves plan to transform piggery into holiday park

Luthermuir: Plans to build 49 upmarket chalets on site get the go-ahead

A former Mearns piggery will be transformed into a holiday park after being given final approval by councillors.

Monarch Leisure and Park Homes is behind the application for 49 chalets, called the Royal Arch Holiday Park, at Dowrieburn in Luthermuir.

The proposals had previously been backed by the Kincardine and Mearns area committee, but the final decision lay with Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee.

At yesterday’s meeting, the committee heard from Mearns Community Council, which had asked to speak at the meeting.

Chris Rushbridge, chairman, said members had a number of concerns with the plans.

He asked the committee for assurances the developer would not seek to get out of the 30 conditions that council officers had attached to the

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We are removing a horrible and hazardous eyesore and creating an upmarket holiday destination. SITE OWNER BILL MCDONALD

planning permission. The chairman also said there had been some anxiety that people could potentially live in the chalets, rather than just use them as holiday lets.

The community council also asked for assurances the 11 passing places the developer planned to create on the surrounding roads would be completed before construction started.

A council planning officer said the authority would monitor the site as it did with every other development and would use enforcement action if necessary.

He added that the passing places requirement was one of the conditions Monarch would have to abide by.

Mearns councillor George Carr submitted a motion to reject the application on the grounds it contravened two local development policies.

However, an amendment from committee vice-chairman John Cox to approve the plans was backed by 10 votes to four.

Speaking after the meeting, site owner Bill Mcdonald said he was “delighted” with the decision.

“We are removing a horrible and hazardous eyesore and creating an upmarket holiday destination.

“Demolition and decontamination will start almost immediately and we intend to be up and running by next summer,” he added.

Picture: Kim Cessford. The derelict piggery will now be given a new lease of life.