Green light recommended for UK's highest motorhomes park
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Planning permission is being recommended for a motorhomes park at Cairngorm Mountain but for fewer berths than original proposed and for a limited time period.
Cairngorms National Park Authority planners have given their backing to revised plans for part of the existing Ciste car park to be turned into the highest site of its kind in the UK.
The proposed number of campervan berths has been cut from 68 to 50 and the development will be only allowed initially for three years if approved.
Members of the CNPA's planning committee will consider the application by Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd at their next meeting on Friday (May 14).
Resort chiefs have said that use of their car parks for motorhomes has soared in recent years.
They want to provide formalised facilities to generate income rather than receiving the current donations, and have said it will help tackle the shortage of facilities for the booming number of tourers coming to the region.
CNPA planning officer Stephanie Wade, recommending approval, stated in her report: "Following the consultation period and in response to comments raised from consultees, a revised site plan has been submitted reducing the number of proposed berths from 68 to 50...
"The formalised use of the existing car park addresses an existing and increasing visitor pressure in a quick and efficient way.
"However, the site will be a significant new facility in an exposed location, unlike most other camper van sites in Scotland.
"It is difficult to predict the use of the facility over its opening months.
"For this reason officers consider that the period for the consent should be limited to a period of three years in order that the success of the site and its visitor management arrangements.
"A future proposal for a permanent site can review the number of berths that are most appropriate given the use of the formalised site and the wider camper van use of Glenmore, can review the visitor management arrangements, and can introduce screening and visual improvements to the site to make it a more pleasant location to stay and to reduce its visual impact in the long term."
Ms Wade added: "The applicant has been made aware of officers’ intention to recommend a three year duration to the use and has accepted that condition.
"They are confident that the project will be a success so anticipate making a further application in future for a permanent facility in the context of a longer term masterplan for the Cairngorm that will be published by Highland and Islands Enterprise in the coming months."
The proposal includes the installation of fencing and entry points to segregate the campervan parking facility from the public parking area, together with signage, a water supply point, and chemical disposal point to a buried storage tank for the campervan waste.
Provision for the storage and collection of general and recycled waste is also proposed.
Campervans without toilets, caravans and tents will not be permitted at the site.
The site lies outwith any designated areas, although shares a boundary with the Glenmore National Nature Reserve.
Other designated areas are located at approximately 0.2km north-west of the site. These include the Glenmore Forest SSSI, and the Cairngorms SPA.
Plans for motorhomes park at Cairngorm Mountain
Call to accelerate plans for motorhomes parks in the Cairngorms National Park
