Ambitious plans for a holiday village development of 75 chalets and a 125-caravan site on the Angus/Perthshire border will be decided by councillors this week.
The Newtyle Property Company proposal goes before Angus development standards committee tomorrow with officials recommending conditional approval for the 18-hectare (45-acre) project on land beside the Belmont Arms Hotel, near Newtyle and right on the Perthshire border.
A string of objections has been raised against the plan, ranging from road safety to the threat posed to red squirrels. But Angus officials say the plan is consistent with the council policies and they are backing the application in principle.
The proposed holiday village will feature up to 75 permanent chalets and up to 125 caravan and camping pitches as well as associated office, reception and leisure facilities.
Although the bid is to secure permission in principle, councillors will see an indicative site layout at the Forfar meeting. It reveals a proposed new road access onto the B954, with the two elements of the site split by Nethermill Wood-the chalet accommodation proposed to the east, the touring caravan and camping area to the west.
The plan also shows provision for four tennis courts, a bowling green, a pond and paths linking to the surrounding area, and additional landscaping in and around the site.
The applicants’ supporting statement says the consultation response at two public meetings last year was “positive” and public attendees, including community councils and local interest groups, were supportive of the plans.
The statement also sets out the Newtyle Property Company’s aims for the site to secure additional tourist income for the area. It says that a catchment area within two hours’ drive from the site had an estimated population of over three million and there is potential to increase Angus’s share of staying visitors.Camping forecastThe submission emphasised the “staycation” effect, with expenditure by domestic visitors using campsites increasing 6% and touring caravans 21% in 2009. That figure is forecast to grow a further 11% by 2014.
The assessment identifies 12 holiday parks within a 30-minute drive and a further 37 within a 60-minute drive offering 550 and 4600 units/pitches respectively.
“The proposed 125 touring pitches would represent an increase of around 50% within a 30-minute drive and 9% within 60 minutes. In summary, the… proposed chalet and caravan park would be a viable proposition and a high quality addition to the local accommodation stock benefiting Angus greatly as a staying visitor destination.”
Opposition to the proposal also includes concern over the scale of the project, but infrastructure services director Eric Lowson is comfortable the project can fit into the area.
“The proposed development will support the council’s strategy to increase the variety and quality of accommodation in Angus. The site is located in a relatively secluded area and is well screened from public view at close proximity by the existing landform, railway embankments and large areas of established planting.
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“The proposed development is not considered to have an unacceptable detrimental effect on the local landscape or rural environment. It is considered to be capable of being absorbed without significant detrimental impact on the surrounding area and is generally compatible with the agricultural land, the adjacent hotel and the two residential properties that surround the site.”
Squirrel and bat populations are also specifically dealt with in the director’s report, and Mr Lowson indicates he is happy there are sufficient control measures in place to protect red squirrel dreys in the locality.
“Similarly, in terms of the protection of bat roosts, the precise location of the access should be routed to avoid felling any trees containing bat roosts,” he adds. “In conclusion, the application must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
“This is an application for planning permission in principle and the detail of the proposal is for future consideration as part of any further application for matters specified in condition. In this case, the application is considered to be compatible with the development plan strategy to diversify the rural economy.
“The principle of the proposed development is compatible with the relevant development plan policies and the site capable of providing a development of high standard with no significant adverse impact on the character or amenity of the area.
“There’s a presumption in favour of development. There are no material planning considerations that would justify refusing the application.”