Macdonald Aviemore Resort wants to build more luxury holiday lodges
A planning bid has been submitted for more luxury holiday lodges at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
The application made to Highland Council’s planning service based in Kingussie is for the change of use of land for siting of 27 lodges, access road and landscaping at the site of the dry ski slope.
The proposed site comprises around 3.2 hectares and is currently occupied by a large expanse of grassland, a car park, dry ski slope, play park, and two man made lochans located in the southwest corner of the site.
The play park is to be re-located elsewhere in the resort if plans are approved.
Planning agent Inverness-based GH Johnston Planning and Design state in the submission: “The application site comprises underutilised open space within the resort.
“With existing holiday lodges sitting adjacent, development of the application site is considered an acceptable expansion of those facilities and is compatible with the development brief.
“Additional lodges on the site provides opportunities to capitalise on the spectacular views of Craigellachie while the height limit of the lodges ensures the view is not dominated or compromised by development.
“SEPA flood maps show little to no risk of fluvial or coastal flooding on site but there is potential for pluvial flooding on two areas within the site.
“These have been considered when designing the site layout.”
The planning agent has said the nearby scheduled dualling of the A9 has been carefully considered when designing the layout of the proposal: “Siting of the lodges has been chosen to minimise noise disturbance from any expansion of the road.”
The site itself is not constrained by any Nature Scot or Historic Environment Scotland statutory designations.
As for the design of the chalets, the planning agent states: “These buildings are designed to look contemporary yet use traditional local materials and will be sited sensitively within the grounds of the resort, not impacting on the trees, ponds and other features of the site or the wider landscape.
“They would be chalet type buildings with pitched roofs, finished in vertical larch cladding, stained brown or an appropriate colour to be agreed.”
The chalets will comprising three bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms and open plan living room, kitchen and dining spaces. Glass balconies and terraces will allow guests to enjoy expansive views.
The applicant states: “The proposal would represent a high standard of design and appearance, both to reflect the nature and setting of the site and the intended market including the proposed luxury holiday lodges sector....
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“The proposed lodges are two storey and are of a bespoke design for suitable integration into a sensitive woodland environment using timber as the main construction material to emphasis their rustic forest character.”
The base of the lodges sited by trees will to be suspended above the ground floor on piles obviating the need for excavation and allowing the ground floor to remain unaltered.
• The plans have been called in by the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee for determination.
