Calum Ross
A historic Highland hotel is due to be granted planning permission next week to build a new 24-bed block.
Councillors have been urged to support the plans for the Carrbridge Hotel, which dates back to 1803.
The two-storey, stand-alone block would be located on the north-east corner of the rear of the hotel’s car park.
The design has been scaled down after a previous planning application was deemed “unacceptable”.
Nine representations have been from six nearby households raising concerns about its impact on privacy, daylight provision, noise, road safety and the design.
However, local authority officers have recommended that councillors approve the application when it is considered by the south planning committee on Tuesday.
In a report to the committee, planning officials said: “The design is very similar to the existing corner extension on the north side of the hotel, which also features a corner turret.
“The architectural detailing and external finishes replicate this earlier extension.
“As a consequence the proposal is considered to be sympathetic to the traditional pattern and character of the area, respecting and complimenting the scale and massing of existing buildings in the vicinity.”
The report added that the proposals aimed to secure the future of the hotel.
“The rationale behind the application is to ensure the long term economic success and viability of the business, including safeguarding existing jobs, and in order to facilitate this the applicant has deemed it necessary to seek to increase the level of accommodation that can be provided at the site,” it said.
“Essentially, this would enable the hotel to accommodate one additional coach load of visitors.”
Approval was recommended, subject to four conditions.
The same committee meeting on Tuesday is expected to rubber-stamp plans for a long-awaited rail station at Inverness Airport, an application for Scotland’s first purpose-built justice centre in the Longman area of the Highland capital, a major revamp of the Filling Station restaurant at the city centre’s Falcon Square, and the construction of 12 council flats at the whisky and craft centre on Fort William High Street.
