Plans by the owners of a Grantown Hotel to create 12 self-catering chalets and upgrade and renovate an early 19^th century house within its grounds have been approved by the Planning Committee of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA).

Meeting in Ballater today (6^th June), the Planning Committee agreed to the applications at the Garth Hotel, which will provide visitors to Grantown with new holiday accommodation options at a time when bed numbers in the town have been declining.

Four separate applications were presented to the Committee which outlined the proposals for 12 self-catering units to the rear of the Garth Hotel, which also involves the demolition of a garage, plus two separate papers referring to the renovation and extension of the neighbouring, Category C listed Gladstone House.

Eleanor Mackintosh, Convener of the CNPA’s Planning Committee said: “I am delighted with the quality of this development and pleased to see applications coming together that benefit the cultural heritage of Grantown and also boost tourism accommodation.”

“As for the re-development of Gladstone House – this property has been derelict for many years, resulting in it being placed on the Buildings at Risk register in 1997 – so this development will help to secure its future, which is great.”

Planning officers and staff at The Highland Council’s Historic Environment Team had expressed some concerns as to whether the application fully met with the legislative, policy and guidance requirements for the alteration and the extension to Gladstone House but on balance, Planning Committee members agreed the proposals were acceptable and would see the listed building repaired and re-used.

To read the planning papers in full please go to: https://cairngorms.co.uk/meeting/planning-2014-06-06/