Green light for £2m Piperdam expansion

Owners hope that luxury chalets will bring more visitors to the area

Planners have given the go-ahead to 20 new luxury chalets at Piperdam in the latest seven-figure investment at the resort.

The near-£2 million project was approved under delegated powers by Angus Council for a scheme which owner Coppergreen Developments hopes will boost visitor numbers by 8,000 annually, generating an additional £300,000 for the local economy.

The Sheffield-based company bought Piperdam, at Fowlis near Dundee, and the adjacent Blacklaw Estate in a £25 million deal in late 2016, with £2m invested in the facility in the first year of ownership.

The new chalets will be built immediately to the south of the majority of the existing lodges on ground formerly used as a golf driving range.

A new access track will be formed for the mix of one, two and threebedroomed single storey chalets.

In its supporting submission, Piperdam highlighted its position at Tayside’s largest independent selfcatering provider after company CEO David Copley’s previously-stated intention to boost the accommodation offered at the resort. He said: “The business is a market leader in UK sport and activity holidays in terms of product and customer satisfaction and the additional tourists attracted to these 20 executive lodges will increase visitor numbers into the Angus economy by circa 8,000 persons per annum, and this will in turn procure on-site spending of £90,000 and off-site spending of £200,000.

“Local builders and suppliers will be sourced to construct and fit out this project, at an estimated cost of £1.9 million and when complete, this project will create 15 full-time positions and generate a further ongoing spend of £500,000 per annum for local businesses, including cleaning and laundry services and food and drink companies.

Angus Council officials raised no concerns and said it was satisfied with plans for surface drainage at the site.

A number of letters of objection were submitted by one party, raising concerns including the density of the proposed development, loss of greenfield land and the proximity of the chalets to the golf course on safety grounds.

But officials said they were happy the proposal will have no significant impact on the local landscape or environment.

“In conclusion, the proposal provides for improvement of existing tourism facilities in a manner that complies with relevant policies.

“The chalet designs are fairly typical of holiday units found within the wider resort and the density and layout does not give rise to any conflict within the development plan.”

When complete, this project will create 15 full-time positions and generate a further ongoing spend of £500,000 per annum for local businesses. DAVID COPLEY