Hotel owners encouraged by public response to redevelopment plans

THE OWNERS of the Kings House Hotel in Glencoe say they are encouraged by the public’s response to their controversial plans to redevelop the historic droving inn, writes Neill Bo Finlayson.

More than 50 people attended an open information forum at St Mary’s Church Hall, Glencoe, to hear from the owners Black Corrie Estate Management and project managers Bidwells, about their plans for a £10m renovation of the hotel.

The owners propose to build a three-storey, 60-bedroom hotel on the landmark site in Glencoe, with work on the site already under way. In her address to the gathering, owner Diane de Spoelberch said: ‘When the Kings House suddenly came up for sale in 2014 we didn’t want somebody buying it to create a large development on the site or build something which wasn’t in keeping with the environment so we bought it to develop a sustainable project.’

Several formal objections have been lodged against the outstanding planning application for the development from organisations including the National Trust for Scotland and the John Muir Trust on the grounds the designs are not in keeping with the surrounding area.

Glencoe and Glen Etive Community Council has voiced its support for the project again this week, with chairman Alistair Sutherland saying the development ‘will provide some scope for young people who might otherwise leave this area’.

Ms de Spoelberch continued: ‘Although my brother Rodolphe de Spoelberch and myself consider this project as an impact investment, which is close to us and the things we love, we have to ensure what we are proposing is economically viable.

‘However, we are responsible investors and don’t want to do anything that would displease the community. We will not proceed with something that is not supported, even if this means no hotel at all.’