New holiday development at Gairnshiel gets go ahead

New holiday development at Gairnshiel gets go ahead
Two new holiday chalets are to be built at Glen Gairn near Ballater after the project was given the go ahead by the planning committee of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA).
Meeting in Nethy Bridge on Friday (5 February) members approved the application for the detached, traditional looking timber buildings within the grounds of Gairnshiel Lodge on the banks of the Clunie Water.
Owners of the Gairnshiel Lodge, which was built in 1764, say they want to diversify their tourism accommodation business which currently involves letting out the lodge for exclusive house parties, corporate events or small weddings.
Recommending the development for approval, planning officer Robert Grant said: “There is general support for the development of tourism accommodation opportunities in rural areas where they can be reconciled with the need to conserve the natural heritage of the area. These buildings are designed to look traditional, use local materials and will be sited sensitively within the grounds of the Lodge, not impacting on the nearby Grade-A Listed Gairnshiel Bridge or the wider landscape.”
Planning Committee member and Aberdeenshire Councillor, Richard Stroud commented: “I support this application; the design of the buildings is very much in keeping with other properties in the area.”
Access this planning committee paper in full here.
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