The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Wedding venue proposal is off
● Designer with links to royal family withdraws bid meantime
An interior designer to the royals is facing a backlash over plans to create a wedding venue in the grounds of a Deeside mansion.
Mikhail Pietranek, described as a “luxury interior design specialist”, runs his business from Monaltrie House in Ballater.
He has worked with clients such as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, and was responsible for overseeing the £1 million revamp of Birkhall House near Balmoral.
Monaltrie House, a B-listed building which he bought in 2002, is also used as a self-catering holiday home and regularly hosts members of the Metropolitan Police when they are looking after the Queen at Balmoral Castle.
Mr Pietranek recently formed plans to build a wedding venue in the ancient grounds, which are nestled among woodland.
But he has now withdrawn the proposal to get more details for the council, after unhappy locals living on the nearby Morven Way called for the project to be rejected.
Resident Gordon Chaplin raised concerns the “inappropriate” development would “commercialise a historic B-listed building and its environs”.
In his letter of objection, he said: “There are existing wedding venues within the village. This development would represent a direct challenge in a limited market.”
Robin and Helen Phillips, who moved to the area from Essex last year, wrote: “Our concerns are that developing such a business on the edge of a quiet residential area will most likely cause periods of undesirable noise and light pollution.
“We believe that such a development would cause a notable loss of quality of life for the surrounding residential area.”
Mr Pietranek, whose clients also include Buckingham Palace, Harrods and Ralph Lauren, last night said his dream was still alive.
He said: “The council wanted more information, and for ease we withdrew the application to get all things organised.
“We still plan to build the wedding venue – it’s an ideal place for a venue.
“Hotels, coffee shops, and businesses in Ballater will all benefit, Royal Deeside is a very popular place for tourists to choose a wedding.
“We have planned weekend packages that would help people visiting to explore the rest of the region.
“We have a lot of weddings here in temporary marquees already, my son has his on July 4. We had to work the date around the Queen, as her staff are staying in the house at the end of that month.”
“Likely cause periods of undesirable noise”