Gallery1

Ground preparations are under way for a new development which will change the heart of Aviemore.

Upland Developments Ltd has been granted consent for its plans for an 83-bedroom hotel, six retail units and 22 self-catering apartments as well as car parking.

Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee unanimously approved revised plans for the Laurel Bank site when they met in the village in mid-March.

The main discussion lasted less than 10 minutes –in stark contrast to the lengthy debate last June when the proposals were defeated in a 9-6 vote as they were deemed a ‘step too far’ and over-development.

The Aviemore-based developer had re-modelled building bases and floor levels to reduce the height of buildings by up to 2.7m for the flats and 1.7m for the hotel.

The CNPA planners described the changes as ‘significant’ and planning committee members were in agreement.

Mr Cameron told the Strathy after the decision: “This is the right development, at the right site, at the right time.”

He has said then there was a lot of interest in the retail developments and several interested parties for the hotel.

Planning agents Ryden forecast that up to 43 jobs could be created as a result of the developments.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.