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Plans for multimillion-pound Loch Ness harbour and visitor centre revived

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Loch Ness tour operator Jacobite Cruises is reviving plans for a new multimillion pound operating base and visitor centre on the shores of the iconic beauty spot.

The company has lodged a third planning application for the development at Brackla – seven years after the scheme was first proposed.

The plans include a new operations base, harbour, visitor centre, restaurant, shop and offices on land off the A82 Inverness to Drumnadrochit road, 1,640ft south-west from the Clansman Hotel.

They were first unveiled in early 2010, before being approved by councillors in March the following year.

However, the planning consent lapsed after three years and a fresh application was lodged in 2014, which was approved by local authority officers under delegated powers.

The company explained at the time that work had not begun due to the economic climate, difficulties addressing planning conditions in relation to roads and drains, and negotiations with landowners.

Jacobite-Cruises-boat

Now, the planning permission for the development is due to expire again, and the firm has lodged a third application for the development.

Documents submitted to Highland Council describe seek a “renewal” of the previous consent, and new environmental reports have also been lodged because the previous studies had expired.

Jacobite Cruises – branded as Loch Ness by Jacobite – was unable to comment on the revived plans for the site last night.

Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said: “I think they have done a superb job of building up the business over the years and I think the plans from the first time around were very impressive.

“It would add significantly to the offering at Loch Ness and would be a very welcome addition to the tourist experience.”

Loch Ness by Jacobite recently celebrated recording a 15% rise in visitor numbers, with a record 200,000 visitors boarding its vessels in 2016.

And last month Freda Newton MBE, who owns and manages the company, was rewarded for her role in tourism with the prestigious Caledonian MacBrayne Silver Thistle Award, which was presented by Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

In November 2015, the company secured planning permission to build a new jetty to replace an existing pontoon at its existing Dochgarroch headquarters.