Plans for a sky bar in Aviemore recommended for approval

Exciting Aviemore rooftop bar plans which will give customers commanding views over to the Cairngorms are being recommended for approval.

Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resorts Ltd has applied for the addition to the Aviemore Hotel which used to be the Freedom Inn.

It is part of wider plans to expand the existing hotel by adding two new floors to the building, together with changes to the external appearance of the hotel.

The operators want to add 25 additional rooms over floors three and four together with the creation of the sky bar on the fifth floor.

Sky bars have become popular haunts through-out the world.

They include Ozone which is perched at 1,570 feet – and 118 floors – at the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong on the West Kowloon waterfront and Peakaboo in New York City which is one floor above The Edge, the tallest viewing platform in the western hemisphere, with the sky-high cocktail lounge hovering nearly 1,150 feet above Manhattan.

Whilst not quite reaching the same heights, members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee will consider the application when they meet tomorrow at their headquarters in Grantown.

Related article:

Check out images of proposed sky bar for Aviemore

Stephanie Wade, CNPA planning officer, states in her report recommending approval: "The proposed sky bar on the fifth floor comprises a large, open plan area with a central bar, toilets, and seating for customers, together with an external circular viewing platform.

"Access to the fifth floor includes the installation of new stairwells and a new, external lift on the north west elevation.

"The roof of the sky bar is proposed to be a clad in zinc, with a mix of flat and pitched roof sections.

"The elevations of the sky bar are to be created of glazed units. A glazed balustrade surrounds the viewing platform."

The new bedrooms would provide 23 four-person family rooms and two twin rooms.

Aviemore Community Council was consulted on the latest design and 'consider that the proposals are inappropriate in the context of the centre of Aviemore'.

They state in their response the 'scale and bulk would dominate the surrounding', and the proposed terrace would overlook the village centre, intruding on others.

But Ms Wade states: "The expansion of an existing hotel within a well-defined settlement is considered to be acceptable and the proposed changes to the external appearance look to enhance a well-established building within the street scene."

An additional parking area for the hotel is also proposed for a separate block of land to the west of the building which is currently used for the community ice rink.

The new car park would provide 48 vehicle spaces and three motorcycle spaces together with covered secure cycle storage for 10 bicycles.

The existing parking area would also be reconfigured to provide an overall total of 93 vehicular spaces which includes seven disabled parking spaces.

No letters of public representation have been received for the application.

Would the sky bar cause a noise nuisance?

Ms Wade states: "The introduction of a roof terraced bar would give rise to an increase in noise at a higher location. Highland Council's environmental health team provided no comments in relation to this.

"Noise impacts would be covered outwith the planning system by licensing hours and the business’s own desire to maintain a sensible environment for guests of their hotel and wider resort.

"If it is subsequently found that noise from patrons using the terrace cannot be adequately managed, the licensing authority would also have powers to put restrictions in place."

As for potential light pollution, the sky bar has been designed with tinted glass to reduce light transmittance by 30 per cent and planners point out the addition is not in a light sensitive environment and will be seen in the context of the wider resort.

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