A north farm is to move lock, stock and barrel across the road to accommodate the dualling of the A9.
Balavil Home Farm must comply with a compulsory purchase order and move half a mile north within two years before the dualling of the Crubenmore- Kincraig stretch of the A9 can begin.
The farm’s general manager Gary Culpan said the move would end up having a silver lining for the welfare of the farm’s livestock.
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Mr Culpan said: “There will be advantages in animal welfare on the north side of the farm, as it will involve less movement of livestock than there is at present.”
The farm has 92 world-class pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle and 1,400 sheep.
The new site has been identified and cleared with designs under way to create “the perfect farm for the site”, Mr Culpan said.
The farm has been granted planning permission in principle for the move by the Cairngorm Park National Authority, and must now move rapidly towards full planning permission.
The current farm has five buildings, some of which are agricultural sheds and demountable.
The development will include a range of farm buildings totalling 2792 square metres, a new access track to the side from an existing estate track and associated drainage.
Mr Culpan said: “I’ve no reservations about the logistical side. We’ve already identified a local contractor to do the work.”
CPNA’s planning convener Eleanor Mackintosh said: “It certainly is an unusual application, moving an entire farm but I am happy to support the recommendation based on the context of the application. I am keen to see the detail of the project when it comes forward.”
Gavin Miles, CPNA’s head of planning and communities said: “The A9 dualling project has presented the farm owners with a set of challenges as to how it can go about its daily business post construction and they have decided that the best way forward is to essentially move the farm.
“We are recommending approval of the application as it meets with all the relevant policies in the Cairngorms National Park local development plan, despite an objection from Transport Scotland.
“As this is a permission in principle – with the detail of the scheme yet to be decided – and the fact that the route of this new section of dual carriageway has yet to be fixed, we have to base our recommendation on the situation as we have it and our current policies.”
