Welcome to our weekly round-up of planning news across the Highlands.
The region’s planners have approved a peatland restoration scheme at RSPB Loch Garten Nature Centre and improvements to a prominent Dornoch hotel.
Permission is sought for the construction of a barrier-controlled bus and emergency service vehicle only connection from Raigmore Hospital to the public road network.
And plans have been submitted for an Ullapool convenience store to be turned into two holiday lets.
Submitted: Barrier-controlled bus and emergency service connection plans
Proposals have been submitted to build a barrier-controlled bus and emergency service vehicle-only connection from Raigmore Hospital to the public road network at Ashton Road.
If approved, bosses believe it will deliver a key link in the sustainable transport network
for Inverness and the Highland region.
Every 15 minutes, a bus will be using the Raigmore bus gate in each direction which means around eight buses per hour at peak times.
According to a planning statement, a large proportion of vehicles at the proposed bus gate will not produce vehicle emissions.
This follows Stagecoach confirming the delivery of a new electric fleet by the end of this year which will be used on the Inverness city-wide network including services using the proposed bus gate.
Approved: Peatland restoration scheme at RSPB Loch Garten
A peatland restoration scheme has got the go-ahead at RSPB Loch Garten Nature Centre near Nethy Bridge.
The centre sits in a remnant of the Caledonian pine forest and within the Cairngorms National Park. It is home to ospreys, as well as red squirrels, woodpeckers and other wildlife.
Work will include dams being installed every three to five metres varying depending on local slope and topography.
Work is planned to be undertaken between November 1 and March 31 2023 outside the bird breeding season. If it cannot be done this winter it will be delayed to a future year.
Last month we revealed in the Highland planning round-up that the existing toilets and visitor hub will be demolished to make way for new facilities.
These include a new changing room, toilets and visitor centre.
Submitted: Holiday lets planned at much-loved shop
An Ullapool shop which is set to close down next month could be turned into two holiday lets.
Ormonde ADPM is representing Allister and Heather Parlett in the application for the change of use of the building at 1 Shore Street.
Parlett’s store will close at the end of November due to a number of reasons including competition from a supermarket and soaring energy rates.
The shop also houses a newsagents and post office. The owners say they will help the transition of the sub-post-office to the new postmaster/postmistress to provide uninterrupted service.
In the interim, alternative branches include Achiltibuie and Garve.
Why holiday lets?
According to an impact assessment, holiday lets would ensure a “viable future” for the building.
If the shop was the only retail unit on Shore Street, the impact would be severe and, in all likelihood, very detrimental to the village.
But it says given the mixed use of Shore Street (including retail, housing, cafes, bars, takeaways and restaurants), the loss of the shop by converting it into holiday accommodation would not negatively impact the footfall or viability of Shore Street.
The report says since the opening of a Tesco supermarket it has been increasingly difficult for small retailers to make a margin on groceries.
“The applicants have tried to diversify by branching out into souvenirs but there are too
many retailers selling the same items.
“Apart from the Post Office income, the applicants have found that they would not survive financially.
“Having tried unsuccessfully to sell the business as a going concern, their only option is to diverge completely from the retail sector and change the business to holiday letting as the huge interest in the NC500 route and popularity of Ullapool as a tourist destination would ensure a viable future for the building.”
Approved: improvements to Dornoch hotel
At the Royal Golf Hotel, Dornoch, major work is going ahead which includes a new restaurant and rooms.
ISA represented Highland Coast Hotels Ltd in the application.
Side and rear extensions will be added to the existing hotel to form a restaurant, six additional bedrooms and staff accommodation.
Dornoch Area Community Council unanimously support the plans.
Car park spaces will be increased from 23 to 30 spaces.
Bosses believe more bedrooms, a new predominantly glazed restaurant and event space will improve the quality of experience for guests.
They added in a planning statement: “Removing the ad-hoc outbuildings and replacing them with a single accommodation block will reduce the visual clutter and mismatch of forms and will screen the service entrance from views from the golf course.
“Although the existing building has been recently refurbished, the success
of the hotel continues to surpass the capacity of the existing building.
“HCHL believe there is an opportunity to create a unique venue which takes
full advantage of the spectacular location and views.”
Here is what the hotel could look like:
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