Planning permission granted for holiday apartments despite SEPA objection

Planning permission has been granted for a four-storey block of holiday apartments at Loch Rannoch Hotel despite a SEPA objection.

While councillors unanimously approved the plans – as recommended by officers – the decision will now be referred to Scottish Ministers to determine whether or not to call it in.

Due to the objection by statutory consultee SEPA – on the grounds of flood risk – a referral has to be made to Scottish Ministers.

SEPA raised concerns over the modelling of flood risk from the culverted watercourse to the northwest. Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) Flood team, however, did not object but requested measures be put in place to address flood risk.

PKC received 80 letters of objection to the application. Concerns included: flooding, density, excessive height, loss of light, noise and light pollution, road safety and the majority raise the issue of foul drainage smells and a lack of capacity.

On Wednesday, March 12, PKC’s Planning and Placemaking met to consider the application.

Loch Rannoch Estate’s proposal is for 22 apartments – 20 holiday lets and two for staff accommodation – which would be a mix of one, two and three-bedroomed apartments.

The existing marina buildings would be demolished and a modern accommodation block – spread over four floors – erected on that site overlooking Loch Rannoch and across to Schiehallion.

In response to questioning at Wednesday’s meeting about the proposed demolition of facilities at the marina, Nicholas Pattie of Loch Rannoch Estate told councillors: “The fitness centre at the marina would be moved, the marina remain and we would – as a separate application – create a clubhouse by the marina to accommodate the water sports. There will be no reduction in the facilities provided; indeed we are looking to create more facilities.”

Loch Rannoch Estate Ltd bought the former Macdonald Hotel in July 2020 and have invested £7 million refurbishing the luxury resort, adding a spa and a range of leisure facilities.

Presenting the application to the committee, Nicholas Pattie said: “We appreciate the next steps rest with the Scottish Government.

“I would like to thank local officers for their support and pragmatic approach taken, given that SEPA have a view and the council’s Flood team have another.

“Loch Rannoch Estate bought the property from Macdonald Hotels in July 2020 when it was closed and in substantial disrepair. We’ve now invested around £7 million in the estate, adding a spa and range of other leisure facilities and taken the hotel from a tired and barely functioning three stars to an accredited four silver stars with the AA and a Rosetted restaurant. We employ two and a half times as many staff as the previous owners, with approximately 55 full-time staff at present.

“However, whilst the business has now stabilised, we have only just – in the past 12 months – achieved a small operating profit. And the scale of the 52-bedroomed hotel at the heart of this is insufficient to support the wide range of facilities and our ambitions for further development and further facilities, and for the woodland pods and the renovation of Rannoch Country Store and Post Office which we have current planning permissions for.”

Bailie Claire McLaren moved the plans for approval “in changing and challenging economic times for businesses”.

The Liberal Democrat councillor added: “The applicant has demonstrated a commitment to the area and the estate by way of significant financial investment to this point. This application would see further intent.”

Seconding the plans for approval, Conservative councillor Ian James said: “It’s a great location; it’s nice to see a business expanding and doing well. I think the impact, as our officers have said, is minimal. I like it.”

The plans were unanimously approved.