NC500 glamping site AXED by council after major backlash…

HIGHLAND residents have won their fight to stop a new luxury glamping park close to the North Coast 500 after a major backlash to the plans.

More than 200 people made objections to the Scottish Government planning reporter against nine new glamping pods with hot tubs set above Ullapool in Wester Ross.

The planning reporter has now dismissed an appeal from the applicant, given the impact the development would have on the setting of Ullapool.

Topher Dawson, chair of Lochbroom Community Council, said it was the first time the community council had objected to a planning matter.

He said the main concern had been the “terrifying” junction on the main road from Inverness.

It carries high volumes of traffic to the ferry port that serves the Western Isles, to the single track road that leads up to the Braes area of the village, where the pods were due to be built.

Mr Dawson said: “For a long time, the community council decided not to support or object to any planning application unless we were unanimous on it.

“For the first time, we objected to a planning application.

“That objection was unanimous.

“There were lots of reasons to object in the community, but we objected on the grounds of traffic.

“We took the decision that this would affect the whole community, not just those using the Braes road.

“This is a terrifying junction, but at least local people understand the situation.

“That would not be the case for those doing the North Coast 500 and going to the Braes development.”

Mr Dawson said residents felt very strongly about the impact the development would have on the path to the Cnoc na Croich viewpoint, with the pods to be built either side.

He said: “Lots of local people go up to the top of the Braes to enjoy the view and that is exactly where these pods were going to be.

“It felt like the applicant wanted to privatise what a lot of us thought was valuable.”

The planning reporter found the junction could not be taken into consideration given it did not form access to the site.

But she said the Braes road, in its existing state, would not be safe for pedestrians or vehicles accessing the glamping site.

The reporter said: “I consider that the development would potentially be prominent in views from the shore area and could detract from the quality of the setting of Ullapool.

“Insufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate otherwise.

“The proposal would not achieve the right development in the right place and would therefore not be supported by Scottish Planning Policy.”

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