Principle of holiday lets apartment block in centre of Aviemore is approved
The principle of building a block of holiday apartments in the heart of Aviemore has been given the green light.
Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee members had been recommended by their planners to approve the application by the Macdonald Aviemore Resort owners despite concerns about the potential height of the building.
The single block comprising 18 self-catering two-bedroom holiday apartments is proposed in an elevated position on a 0.43 hectare site on the resort’s land to the rear of the Cairngorm Hotel.
The original submission was for 22 apartments on the site which is still home to a long time derelict staff block for the resort.
Planners point out the scale of the building does not form part of this application which is for planning permission in principle only.
Planning committee member Bill Lobban told the meeting in Grantown on Friday: "I have to admit that I have real concerns over this development particularly in terms of the previously indicative design, scale and massing.
"I appreciate that my concerns will be assessed under the various matters specified in conditions applications that come forward.
"The fact that the developer has removed the detail from the proposed development leads me to ask the question whether it will ever be developed or whether it is nothing more than an asset enhancement exercise which will never see the light of day."
He and several other members expressed their concerns over the potential impact of such a development on the nearby Category A Listed Aviemore railway station and Category B Listed Cairngorm Hotel and the impact of the removal of protected trees.
Aviemore Community Council had objected to the bid.
Chairman Peter Long stated: "We would, of course, much prefer to see such sites used for affordable housing to help address the crisis currently affecting our community.
"The community council's previously stated objections and concerns about the potential scale and nature of this development remain unaddressed, and we find it hard to envisage how 18 units plus parking can be built on this site without building to an unacceptable height.
"Our view is that should permission be granted any development should be no more that two storeys high, with a maximum of say 12 units."
Matters specified in conditions application allows developers to test the water without going to the time and expense at this stage of a detailed application.
Planners gave assurances at the meeting at the CNPA's headquarters that all the matters specified in conditions would come back before the planning committee as part of a detailed application for consideration – including scale and massing – if called in.
