Luxury 'bothy' bids on Wildland Ltd estate by Kingussie met with differing outcomes
Cairngorm National Park Authority’s planning committee members entered extra time as they agonised for more than two hours over whether or not to allow development of two luxury “bothies” by Kingussie.
After recesses, amendments and votes at the latest virtual meeting, the result was that one development was allowed while the other was blocked on land owned by Scotland’s richest man Anders Holch Povlsen.
The two separate applications for self-catering holiday accommodation by his conservation company Wildland Ltd were considered by members who had visited the two nearby sites at Killiehuntly last month.
The first, overlooking Lochan nan Reamh, was specifically designed for those with limited mobility and will be fully accessible despite its seemingly remote location. It was approved on a vote of 15-3.
The second, smaller building was narrowly refused planning consent by committee members due to adverse impacts on the landscape character in this location – closer to the River Tromie – and failing to comply with planning policy.
Wildland CEO Tim Kirkwood told the Strathy after the meeting: “We’re pleased that our all abilities ‘accessible but remote’ bothy at Lochan nan Reamh has been approved.
“Both bothies had been recommended for approval by the planning officers following extensive work done by Wildland and all the appropriate consultees.
“The committee voted against granting consent for our little bothy by
the River Tromie 10 votes to 7, with one abstention, so it was a close decision.
“We will consider how, or if, we can improve our chances of success when the finalised reasons for refusal are issued, which will probably be over the next week or so.
“However, we are really pleased that we can increase the accessibility and inclusiveness of Wildland guests in such a beautiful and special location and look forward to progressing with the detailed design of our Lochan nan Reamh bothy.”
Objector John Barton, of neighbouring Drumuish, thanked planning committee members who had opposed the plans. He said: “Our congratulations and appreciation must go to Deirdre Falconer and Willie McKenna, the locally elected members who proposed and seconded the opposition.
“The new building would have been on a virgin site and only a few hundred yards from where the visitors were likely to have been based.
“Because it was intended to provide overnight accommodation, a new service road would have been constructed over boggy ground.
“The River Tromie has always been popular for wild swimming, especially in the pool a short distance upstream, and if the new building had been constructed, there would inevitably been some restriction on the public access to the river bank. Badenoch should celebrate.
“Sadly, the committee approved the other application – even although there is no separate room for a carer, nor have any of the existing buildings been adapted for the disabled.”
