Revised plans come forward for hotel, shops and holiday apartments in Aviemore
Developers have come forward with revised plans for a crucial site in the heart of Aviemore after their initial proposals were rejected last summer for being 'a step too far'.
The planning application is for a mixed-use development of 22 self-catering apartments, ground level retail units, an 83 bed hotel and parking at the former Laurel Bank site on Grampian Road.
Much of the lay-out remains the same as Upland Development Ltd's first application but the hotel and apartments have been reduced in scale and now have a lower skyline.
Planning agents Inverness-based Norr Consultants Ltd state: "A review was undertaken of the apartment block, hotel, and site levels, together with the dropping of a floor on the block adjacent to Grampian Road.
"This has resulted in a significant reduction in ridge height by 2.7 metres on the apartment block and 1.7 metres on the hotel."
The application also includes a small provision – four double bedrooms with en-suite facilities in the proposed hotel – for staff accommodation.
The 43 documents so far filed by the developers include a 104 page transport assessment, 75 page construction environmental management plan, 50 page drainage impact assessment and 32 page flood impact assessment.
The previous application was for a 83-bedroom hotel, 23 two and three-bedroom self-catering holiday apartments, six shops and parking for 86 cars including an underground facility on the now vacant 0.8 hectare central site fronting onto the main street.
Aviemore Community Council is due to discuss the merits of the latest application at its next meeting on January 12.
Chairman Peter Long has urged local residents to let the watchdog and planners know their views, imploring: "These are potentially massive changes to the centre of Aviemore."
Norr have said in the design statement that the intention is to provide a development that 'meets the needs of the local and wider community and, the large number of visitors to the area'.
On the brief from the village based developer, the firm states: "Due to its prime location at the centre of Aviemore the developed proposal was to form a court open to Grampian Road which would include a public gathering space.
"On the periphery of the court would be apartments over shops, on two sides, facing onto the court and completing the court on the third side, a hotel over basement parking in response to the topography of the site.
"The formation of the court with a public gathering space at the core of Aviemore consolidates the village.
"This prominence is further enhanced by the proposed three storey building height, whilst providing a continuity of ground floor activity, which is sympathetic to the traditional pattern and character of the surrounding area."
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A six-metre riparian strip to Milton Burn is also proposed to be established.
As for retail, Norr state: "The requirement for retail outlets remains strong in Aviemore with all existing retail occupied.
"Interest has been noted for the proposed retail units within this development."
No public responses to the application were showing in the council's e-planning portal as the Strathy went to press yesterday although there has been plenty of interest on local social media.
Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee turned down the first application by 9-6 votes with one abstention in June, last year, after a debate lasting 90 minutes.
Planners had recommended approval but concerns were expressed during the meeting over the lack of parking provision and that the constructions would lead to the site being over-developed.
Fears were also aired that such an addition would exacerbate existing traffic congestion on Grampian Road, the village's only thoroughfare.
CNPA planning officers had recommended approval stating the development would ‘contribute to the vitality and viability of the existing town centre’.
The proposal is on a brownfield site which used to be home to the Victorian villa Laurel Bank, Scouts hut and a family funfair.
• More on the proposed development including visual impressions can be seen via https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/ and keyword searching 'Aviemore' or typing in reference 22/05824/FUL