Planners recommend go-ahead for 25 new holiday lodges at Aviemore resort
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The go-ahead is being recommended for 25 new holiday lodges to be constructed at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
Cairngorms National Park Authority planners have backed the application which would require the relocation of the resort's play park and also takes in the former dry ski slope and a small car park.
Macdonald Resorts Ltd's proposal also includes an access road and landscaping and will be determined by the CNPA's planning committee this Friday in Grantown.
But Aviemore Community Council is amongst around 11 objections to the application for the site of around 3.2 hectares.
The watchdog's concerns including the rise in vehicle traffic causing an 'adverse impact on the local infrastructure'; loss of a green space and the play park and the impact on views of Craigellachie National Nature Reserve.
CNPA planning chief Gavin Miles states in his report to go before the committee: "The proposals would result in the creation of 25 additional lodges at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort and supplement the existing accommodation on the site.
"The proposed development will introduce additional tourist accommodation in a location which is likely to be able to support such provision given the high number of visitors to this area.
"The proposal would generate construction employment opportunities, and in the longer term permanent employment for a small number of staff to service the units.
"This in turn will support the vitality and viability of the local economy and support the year round economy."
He also pointed out: "The site has capacity for further development and with appropriate woodland and tree planting will extend the wooded character of the site, albeit with lodges as part of the area.
"The dark cladding of the lodges and dark roofs will reduce their immediate impact and they will be located on the existing land form of the site so will reflect that topography.
"Over time, additional tree planting will help the lodges blend into the land form.
"Most views to the site are currently dominated by the crags of Craigellachie and the wooded slopes beyond the A9 and this sense of the site sitting beneath Craigellachie will continue once the development is completed."
The 'contemporary' lodges, if approved, will be chalet type buildings with pitched roofs and two storeys high with three bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms and open plan living, dining and kitchen accommodation.
They will be constructed using flat panel, timber framing on a flat base, with timber pilings and ground screw foundations to minimise disturbance to the ground and neighbouring tree root systems.
The proposed development will include an five metre wide access road which will serve the new lodges and link them to the wider resort.
Mr Miles acknowledges that some of the activities that the site is currently used for will be less likely be possible once the development is completed.
The knoll to the north of the site is occasionally used for organised children’s activities and informally used for sledging in winter.
He said: "There will still be a central area of open space and sloping areas within the development once constructed, that could still be used informally but may be less well used than currently.
"The play equipment area on the site is a private facility but is accessible to and popular with the wider public too.
"The applicant has stated that they intend to relocate the play area to another part of the land, which makes commercial sense as it is likely to be positive part of their offering to visiting families.
"The applicant has many suitable potential locations, potentially more easily accessible to a wide range of guests and the public on their land but
none are part of this application.
"Given that the applicant has expressed their willingness to relocate the play area to another site within their control, a condition is recommended that only allows development of this application once an equivalent play area has been opened elsewhere on the resort."
Other objections raised with the planning authority include the proposed development will :
• have an adverse impact on the ospreys that feed at a lochan on the site;
• is too domineering in design, and insensitive to the character of the surrounding area.
• there are lodges proposed very close to the Aviemore orbital path and will change the experience of the walk.
One of the objectors told planners: "I strongly object to this development that will eradicate a very popular green space that is used for recreational purposes by the local community and visitors.
"The children's play park is an essential activity hub of family life and is very well used and would be a massive loss to our community.
"The green spaces must be protected for leisure and recreation or Aviemore risks becoming a huge tourist concrete jungle. There is already an enormous supply of holiday accommodation. Enough is enough.
"Please consider the implications of the loss of this green area on our local community.
"The swimming pool at this site is already out of bounds for locals and only accessible to the guests of the Macdonald's resort. This in itself has been a huge blow for people that actually live here."
Osprey are used to seeing people at the resort
Protected osprey feed at the fish-stocked pond within the site and RSPB Scotland has expressed its concerns that they could be impacted by the proposed development.
But Mr Miles said: "Ospreys are well-known to become habitualised to the presence of people near their nesting sites and ospreys fishing at the pond will have been used to the presence of children in the nearby play area and many people walking including with dogs on the paths around the pond."
