A £10million retail park in the centre of Aviemore has been given the go-ahead.
The development is set to bring a new Aldi supermarket and two other shops to the village, creating as many as 150 jobs.
Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority planning committee unanimously backed the scheme at Myrtlefield, off Grampian Road.
The project is being developed by the landowners London and Scottish Investments under the name SC Aviemore Ltd.
The site was previously earmarked for a new Tesco – but the supermarket giant walked away from the project last year.
The application approved yesterday allows the developer to divide the larger supermarket into three units, with 60% of the floor space to be for convenience goods and 40% for comparison goods.
It is understood that the developer has lined up a M&S food store and a Home Bargains, alongside the Aldi supermarket.
The planning committee’s decision was welcomed following the meeting.
Councillor Dave Fallows said: “It will be widely welcomed, not just in Aviemore but across the whole Strath.
“It really increases the range of options available to people and I think everybody has got behind that.”
He added: “Like many I suspect I am eager to see work begin to happen on this development which will be of benefit to the Strath and to Aviemore.”
A further application to make amendments to the exterior of the proposed building is currently in the planning system.
The development has won the backing of Aviemore Community Council and the Caithness Business Partnership
Eleanor Mackintosh, the convener of the CNPA Planning Committee, said: “This key site at the centre of Aviemore is ideal for retail development and has had planning permission for two years now. We are fully aware of the community’s desire to see shops developed there and we share their frustration that there is not yet development on the ground.
“We fully support these recent proposals and urge the developers to get on and ensure the facilities are built as soon as possible.”
