Commercial developments approved for Aviemore

There was a particular focus on the economy at today’s Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee, with applications approved that will provide new premises for businesses, retail and holiday accommodation.

The Planning Committee, meeting in Aviemore this morning (10 March) gave the go ahead for the erection of 20 commercial letting units, access road, parking areas and associated infrastructure at Knockgranish, just to the north of Aviemore.

Planning Officer, Stephanie Wade explained: “The application site is ideal for this type of development given its location in a semi-industrial location and this proposal would bring this underused, brownfield site back into productive use, fulfilling a need to support the local economy by providing much needed business premises.”

An application for a site on Aviemore’s Grampian Road for a mixed use development comprising 22 self-catering holiday apartments with retail units at ground floor level and an 83 bedroom hotel was also approved. It had been previously refused by the planning committee but amendments to the proposal satisfied members this time round.

Despite objections from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to flooding the planning team recommended the application for approval. The planner’s report referenced Aviemore’s importance as a key employment and service centre for the wider Badenoch and Strathspey area with Local Development Plan policy supporting opportunities for business growth.

Planning Officer Alan Atkins explained: “Our policies dictate that commercial and leisure developments such as this should, where possible, be located within an identified town centre and this application site lies within Aviemore’s town centre boundary and is well located in terms of access to services and amenities. Our own Local Development Plan identifies the site as a mixed-use development opportunity.

“While I appreciate the reasons for refusal of the previous application, those have been addressed somewhat with the most significant difference in the proposed development being a reduction in the height of the buildings.”

Dr Gaener Rodger, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committeecommented: “I am particularly happy to see these brownfield sites coming back into use with both of these Aviemore applications approved today. They both will provide economic opportunities and support the 20 minute neighbourhood model.”