A £100million hotel and spa resort in Royal Deeside took a step closer to becoming a reality yesterday – four years after first being discussed by councillors.
Plans for a five-star tourist resort at Inchmarlo, near Banchory were first lodged with Aberdeenshire Council in 2011, and were granted permission in principle.
But yesterday, members of the Marr area committee spent more than two hours debating a revised masterplan for the development – which was narrowly approved by five votes to four.
The decision paves the way for Royal Whisky Lodge – a 38-bedroom hotel operated by McCulloch Unique Hotels, owned by Ken McCulloch, who created the Malmaison chain – along with 85 homes and 12 lodges.
However, councillors heard concerns from the Inchmarlo Continuing Care Retirement Community that a proposed pathway would scupper their privacy.
The masterplan covered five applications – the last of which was for full planning permission for an upgrade of the Inchmarlo Home Farm road and the creation of a new path and cycle way.
This would link up with a walking route through the retirement village, which residents of the community are against.
Local resident Ron McGraw said the estate – which is made up of a number of privately owned houses and a care home – would be “heavily impacted by the proposals” for the pathway, though he did not object to the rest of the development.
Councillors were locked in a two hour and 20 minute long debate at Alford’s public hall about the potential implications of the development.
The developer, Inchmarlo Farms Ltd, will support off-site facilities through contributions of about £260,000.
But Banchory councillor Karen Clark insisted the masterplan “wasn’t what was promised”, when planning permission in principle for the first draft of the application was granted in 2011.
She felt the developer obligations on offer paled in significant to the “hundred, million pound development”.
She said: “I personally feel that this proposals is very fundamentally different from what was approved last time round at full council. I feel like we have been put through a straightjacket.
“I don’t feel like we have been given the powers we had last time in the planning application in principal. I just feel like what we have missed out on in the community is something we won’t be forgiven for. I think there should be a fresh application
going to full council.”
But planning officer Neil Mair told the committee the project represented a major investment for the council and said there was no grounds for refusing the application as all consultees were satisfied.
He was backed by colleague Roddy Matheson, the council’s service manager for the industry sector, who argued it would “significantly enhance” tourism in the north-east.
Mr Matheson added: “In relation for this application we new have an identified operator, Ken McCulloch, one of Scotland’s most respected hoteliers.
“This proposal would see only the second five-star hotel in Aberdeenshire. One of only three in the north-east of Scotland.”
Banchory SNP councillor, Linda Clark, moved with Liberal Democrat Mrs Clark to refuse the application from going ahead and also to reject the plans for the pathway completely.
She said: “I feel like I am being forced into a situation where I have got to accept things.”
However, their bid was unsuccessful and the committee agreed to grant the masterplan and the hotel, housing and lodge developments.
The plans for the road upgrade and pathways were only approved on the grounds the council re-think its plans for linking up a core path to the development with the retirement community.
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor, Peter Argyle, said: “We haven’t heard any reason for refusal. If you accept the very, very clear advice we have been given, I think what you have got is a very high quality development – particularly the hotel.”
A spokesman for Inchmarlo Farms Ltd said: “Inchmarlo Farms Limited are naturally delighted that we received detailed planning permission from the Marr area committee for our development.
“We look forward to moving things on in the new year with our various partners. We have listened attentively to all that has been said and specifically commented on during the course of the planning process and will reflect such in our approach from here on in.
“It is particularly pleasing to see our local politicians support this development and all that it encompasses at a time when there has been a call for an economic renaissance for the area.
“Tourism has much to offer and we hope through the concept of the Royal Whisky Lodge that we can bring something special to the area to create a step change for Royal Deeside and help percolate some economic wealth that is not oil related.
“We are delighted to be working with Ken McCulloch and all his team at McCulloch Unique Hotels. The overall aim is to create a quality development simultaneously protecting the rural effect and the local environment.
“Aberdeenshire has much to offer and if we are to bring much needed diversity to our local economy then it is projects such as this that need to be supported by council. We fully back the call for an economic renaissance which long term is absolutely imperative.”