A DECISION to turn down plans for a development of holiday homes and leisure facilities close to Loc h Lomond has been upheld by the Scottish Government.
Applicant De Vere Capital had asked the government to overturn the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority’s decision in June 2019 to refuse permission for the proposed development at High Wards farm, to the east of Gartocharn.
The plans, including a building for functions and events, two holiday letting units with leisure facilities, including a swimming pool, and a separate house for estate staff, were originally lodged in April 2016.
But in a ruling published earlier this month, the government’s planning and environmental appeals division upheld the park authority’s decision and dismissed the appeal.
READ MORE: National Park refuses permission for Loch Lomond wedding venue plans
Reporter Trevor Croft said in his adjudication that he had “significant concerns about the size of the proposed buildings”, which he said was “not appropriate for the [Loch Lomond] national scenic area”.
Mr Croft also said he was not convinced there was a “strong market demand” to justify the development.
The National Park's original rejection of the plans was welcomed by the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs conservation charity, which said they amounted to "creeping suburbanisation" of the land around the loch.
You can read all the documents relating to the developer's appeal to the Scottish Government in full by clicking here.
READ MORE: Check out all the latest news headlines from across Helensburgh and Lomond here
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