National Park set to assess Glenshee plans
Cabin plans called in by authority
Plans to create a new holiday park in the Spittal of Glenshee will be looked at by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Glasgow-based developers Yorsipp Ltd had earlier this month submitted an in principal planning application to Perth and Kinross Council to remove what remains of the fire-damaged Spittal of Glenshee Hotel and replace it with 18 new two-bedroom holiday cabins.
The proposed holiday park near the MacThomas Bridge, north of Blairgowrie, would also include a central hub building as well, which would house a reception, restaurant and bar, as well as a car park.
Now the park authority has “calledin” the planning application to assess the proposals itself.
Should the development be approved, it could provide accommodation for tourists to both the nearby Glenshee Ski Centre and the scenic Snow Road route within the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park.
The park authority said: “The proposal is considered to raise issues of significance to the collective aims of the national park in respect of the provision of tourism accommodation and facilities close to the A93 scenic route outside a settlement; social and economic wellbeing; and landscape impacts in relation to conserving and enhancing the landscape.”
A number of consultations have already taken place on the proposed site by Perth and Kinross Council.
Consultees have already recommended a protected species survey on the site to make sure there
The hotel site shortly after the fire in August, 2015 will be no adverse impact to the natural environment under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and add the developers need to be aware they may have to get a licence from the Scottish Natural Heritage if they need to move a protected species if necessary.
The council’s trading standards team has also inspected the site’s underground fuel storage tanks after complaints were made about health and safety.
Team members concluded they had no objections but added there is a “lowlevel risk” from the remaining parts of the fuel storage system on site.
Environmental health officers have also asked the developers behind the proposal to maintain and repair the existing private water supply to the site should planning permission be granted.
A decision on the application will be announced in due course.