IMAGES: Go-ahead for development which will change the heart of Aviemore
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Plans for a hotel, retail units and self-catering apartments in the very heart of Aviemore have been approved by the Cairngorms National Park Authority planning committee.
It was a second attempt by developers in less than 10 months to get approval for the big money plans which will shape the centre of the village for years to come.
A very similar application by the same company – Upland Developments Ltd – was refused by the CNPA's planning committee in June last year as the bid was deemed to be over-development and a 'step too far'.
But this time the planning committee gave unanimous backing to the proposals for an 83-bedroom hotel, six ground level retail units, 22 self-catering apartments and two car parks for 87 vehicles including a hotel underground facility.
It came after the Aviemore-based developer had re-modelled building bases and floor levels to reduce the height of buildings by up to 2.7m for the flats and 1.7m for the hotel.
They have also indicated they will reserve eight bed spaces in four en-suite bedrooms within the new hotel for temporary staff accommodation.
In the end, the main discussion lasted for less than 10 minutes.
There had been an objection from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to potential flooding from the Milton Burn into part of the underground car parking.
However, members were satisfied with their planners' confirmation that any flood risk was minimal – less than a one if 200 year threat – and that there was over-provision within the flood alevation measures to more than compensate for this.
However, Scottish Ministers will still have to clear this and in doing so give the final approval for the development.
CNPA 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 Committee commented that she was particularly happy to see the brownfield site come back into use.
Aviemore Community Council had continued to object to the plans for the now vacant Laurel Bank site.
Watchdog chairman Peter Long had told planners: "Despite some minor modifications to the building height and the introduction of some more appropriate building materials and finishes we feel that some of the key concerns remain unaddressed.
"This is a key site in the heart of Aviemore.
"Any sizeable development here will define the character of the centre for generations to come."
The Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group has also raised its own concerns over parts of the north end of site near the Milton Burn being built on and outlined its concerns at the meeting.
It had said the CNPA as planning authority should be doing more than 'just paying lip service' to the climate and nature crises especially given the 'serious trouble' faced by local populations of salmon, freshwater mussels, otters and even rare riverflies.
The CNPA's planning committee turned down last summer's application by 9-6 votes with one abstention after a debate lasting 90 minutes despite planners recommending approval.
The brownfield site covering 0.807 hectares used to be home to the Victorian villa Laurel Bank, Scouts hut and Spencers' family funfair.
