Views sought on plans for new hotel and self-catering apartments in Aviemore
Upland Development is seeking approval from Highland Council for 23 self-catering apartments, shops, a hotel and underground parking in the centre of Aviemore.
The site is 80 metres south-west of the Mountain Café on Grampian Road and includes the grounds of the former Laurelbank property.
The plan is for a court open to Grampian Road which would include a public gathering space.
The design statement by Inverness-based Norr Consultants Ltd states: “On the periphery would be apartments over shops, on two sides, facing onto the court and completing the court on the third side, a hotel over-basement parking in response to the topography of the site.
“The formation of the court with a public gathering space consolidates the village.
"This prominence is further enhanced by the proposed three-storey building height.”
Community councillors are seeking comments on the plan which they will discuss at their next meeting on Wednesday.
The watchdog has stated: "This is an important planning application which will have a big impact on the village centre for years to come.
"The community council can comment on behalf of local residents. Tell us what you think.
"This will be discussed at our meeting on April 8."
The meeting will be held virtually because of the current Covid restrictions.
The watchdog's post on the proposed complex on the Aviemore and Spey Valley Community Issues Forum has prompted no shortage of views both for and against the application with more than 200 comments so far.
Comments range from "brilliant development!" and "It's better to have a bunch of holiday accommodation all in one place than having every other house in a residential area being a holiday let" to "far too high" and "I don't see much here for the community, it would be better if the accommodation was for affordable homes for residents".
