Application to build rural house
A house could be built in a remote spot near Balquhidder to help with the running of a hill sheep farm.
Mr and Mrs Alcuin and Abbey Arkotxa have been granted permission in principle by Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners to develop a site near Bealach, close to the south shore of Loch Voil, west of the village.
The site, within a former quarry/borrow-pit, is approached via a spur from a private track to the south which travels above residential properties at Tom na Cloiche and Muirlaggan, and leads further west to Monachyle Tuarach. It is at a lower level than the modern residential property Bealach, which was a replacement on that site for a chalet which burnt down.
Planning permission also exists for an agricultural building and work has already started on this.
Park planners said: “The justification for a new house at this isolated countryside location is that it is required for the applicant, who runs a hill sheep farm at Clach Mhor nearby and is a forestry worker for the surrounding Muirlaggan Forest.”
In a submission with the application, Mr Arkotxa said the livestock constitued 369 hill ewes, 11 tups and 103 ewe hogs.
Planners added: “The applicant currently resides in temporary accommodation at the re-built house at Bealach but must vacate this house for use by his extended family and visiting stalkers.
“An updated labour report concludes that the total labour requirement for the existing business run at Clach Mhor is some 1.35 labour units, based on the now accepted standard labour unit being 1900 hours. The size of the business and the stock carried therefore justify one full time person. This does not take account of the time spent on the forestry management.
“The wider area is of high landscape value and it is important that the siting, size and design of the house are sympathetic to its rural setting. The house would be set against a backdrop of a hill and existing trees, and subject to an appropriate landscape scheme and conditions relating to materials, it is considered that a house could be sensitively accommodated within the site. Further planting will be required to minimise the visual impact of the house and soften its impact.
“Also existing woodland within the applicant’s ownership should be covered by a woodland management plan, approved by the planning authority, in order to ensure that this area is not removed and therefore expose the housing site, but is actively managed to ensure long-term screening.”