Former kennel near Callander could be turned into home

A former kennel building near Callander could be turned into a home.

Mr and Mrs David Ferguson have applied to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners for a change of use and extension of the building next to The Kennels on Invertrossachs Road.

The single storey structure, which also has an attic, is thought to have once acted as a kennel for a nearby listed house, specifically built as quarantine accommodation given a larger kennels block was formerly located nearby.

Agents for the applicants said:“the site is within mixed woodland approximately 29 metres off the main Invertrossachs Road leading to Invertrossachs House, and sits uphill from the existing watercourse that passes through the site to discharge into Lochvenachar.

“The original purpose of this building was likely to be for quarantining any sick dogs and this facility has not been used for many years resulting in the deterioration of the fabric of the building which is now fallen into serious disrepair.

“The site area has also become overgrown over time with no tree management and rhododendron spreading within the undergrowth. The watercourse that passes to the east of the site has also become in some areas choked with vegetation.

“It is proposed to save as much as possible of the original structure and design a one bedroom house utilising the footprint of the existing building with a modest rear extension to the north of the original building and form an access driveway, parking space for two cars and a turning area within the site.

“It is an important part of the brief that the character of the existing building and its former use are maintained as much as possible to ensure that this form of vernacular architecture is preserved.”

Park planners are expected to make a recommendation on the application in due course.