Green light for new retail centre by A9 near Kingussie
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The estate behind plans for a mini House of Bruar near Kingussie has welcomed the green light for the £5 million development.
Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) planning committee members unanimously approved the application for the site by the A9 and four kilometres north of the town when they met virtually at their latest meeting.
But the opening of the estate and farm shop, café and events venue could still be a long way off, and not until the latter 2020s.
Balavil Estate was seeking and gained a renewal of its existing permission for the development at its old steading.
However, it has now been granted consent for seven years, rather than the usual three, to start the work.
This is because of ongoing complications over road access arrangements, and compulsory purchase land caused by the dualling of the A9 on the estate’s doorstep.
Estate manager Gary Culpan welcomed the go-ahead, and said: “We feel the dualling of the A9 – which is very important to us – will have to take place, or at the very least we will have to know when it will be finished, before we can look at starting to develop the site.
“There is no point in creating a retail development if it is going to be accessed through a construction zone. This area could be a construction zone for three years, or possibly even longer.”
On the investment itself, he said: “I am sure it will be a very exciting development for the area. We are planning to complement everything in the area.
"I think we have already proven that we hire locally too. We have 12 full-time employees on site and the majority of them are locals and living on site.”
Up to 15 jobs could be created at the complex at Balavil Mains Farmhouse when it does eventually open.
Nyetimber sparkling wine tycoon Eric Heerema and his wife Hannah bought the 7000-acre estate in 2015.
CNPA planning officer Stephanie Wade had stressed at the committee meeting there had been no changes to the proposed development approved by the park authority in January 2018.
Highlighting the A9 issue, she said: “Work at the Mains of Balavil might not be able to start until 2026 at the earliest, hence the request for a longer consent period.”
Planning committee member Carolyn Caddick welcomed the development. She said: "I appreciate that this is the second time that we are seeing this an as application so that is why there are probably so few questions.
"I remember there was quite a lot of discussion the first time round...
"I think it is a really high quality development of some under-used buildings. I used to go past it every day on my way to school – and that's some time ago and the buildings needed renovating then.
"I think it is great then that there is some progress here with this high quality development. It will enhance the area.
"I understand the concerns of those businesses in Kingussie but I do see this as being complementary and it might increase footfall in the town."
Fellow committee member Douglas McAdam said he thought the development would be ‘very beneficial’ to the area.
But he questioned how common it was to grant such a lengthy time extension to a planning consent.
CNPA chief planner Gavin Miles said three years was written into planning law, but the justification put forward was reasonable and planning authorities had the discretion to extend this.
“It is a tool in the box to be used,” he said.
Planners recommend approval for mini House of Bruar by Kingussie
