The Cairngorms National Park Authority has approved an application for 12 holiday cabins in Strathdon, at a site just off the Snow Roads scenic route.

At its monthly meeting this morning (Friday 24 May), the Planning Committee approved the contemporary holiday cabins, which will be situated in a woodland clearing at Corgarff, providing new tourist accommodation in an area of the Park that is growing in popularity.

Despite objections raised in relation to landscape impacts, design, lack of amenities for visitors, road safety issues and impacts on wildlife, the planning team recommended the application for approval. The application had been deferred from the March planning meeting after committee members requested a site visit to view the area and assess for themselves what the impacts might be.

Addressing members of the Planning Committee, CNPA Planning Officer Emma Wilson said: “While there are concerns, particularly in relation to landscape impacts, I believe that these can be mitigated against and the proposal does comply with policies in our Local Development Plan. This is a high quality tourist accommodation offering for Strathdon on the Snow Roads Scenic Route and has the potential to significantly contribute to the local economy.”

Peter Argyle, Vice Convener of the CNPA Planning Committee had moved to refuse the application but following a vote the decision went in favour of the planning officer’s recommendation.

Planning Committee Convener, Eleanor Mackintosh commented: “While I appreciate and fully understand the concerns raised, there is no doubt that an accommodation offering of this quality would do well in an area like Strathdon. With the development of the Snow Roads Scenic Route and all the exciting developments in the Tomintoul and Glenlivet area, the eastern edges of the Park are attracting more and more visitors. I am happy to support the recommendation to approve the application.”

To read the CNPA Planning Committee papers in full please go to: https://cairngorms.co.uk/meeting/planning-2019-05-24