New holiday lodges get green light at Bridge of Orchy beauty spot

Plans for 11 new lodges to be built near the Bridge of Orchy Hotel have been given the go-ahead by council chiefs.

Hotel management submitted the proposal to Argyll and Bute Council to build the new units, along with a service building.

The application attracted two representations from the public, one of which was from Oban Disability Access panel and resulted in an accessible parking bay being added to the original plans.

The Bridge of Orchy Village Hall Trust also registered an objection, but despite that, council planning officers approved the application.

And officer said in a handling report: “The design and access statement outlines that the lodges have been arranged within the site utilising the sloping topography of the site to help them integrate well within the site creating a sense of privacy and seclusion whilst also providing views out.

“A small service building is proposed adjacent to Station Brae which will house the boiler and heating infrastructure, storage area and a recycling area.

“The proposed service building has been designed as a landscape feature comprising a simple, single storey, flat roofed structure constructed from local stone.

“Dedicated car parking provision to partly serve the proposed development is located to the east of the site accessed from Station Brae with no direct vehicular access to the proposed lodges which will be accessed via a series of gravel paths leading from the proposed parking area. Additional off-street car parking and turning provision will be required.”

The officer added: “The site is considered to represent a suitable opportunity within the defined minor settlement for the proposed development which has been well thought out with the siting, design and finishes sympathetic to the site and wider landscape which will ensure that the development integrates well within the site and wider landscape at this location consistent with the provisions of the policies and guidance set out above.

“The application proposes to utilise the existing access spurring from the A82 trunk road in the control of Transport Scotland which leads onto the public road of Station Brae which is in the control of the council’s roads engineer.

“Ongoing discussions have taken place between the agent and Transport Scotland regarding the use of the access which resulted in a finalised response from Transport Scotland in which they raised no objection subject to a condition being imposed on the grant of permission to secure improvements to the junction of the A82 trunk road with the public Station Road.”