Braes of Ullapool holiday pods' bid by Ossian Developments rejected by councillors on Highland Council north planning applications committee
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A CONTROVERSIAL Ross-shire holiday pod bid that sparked a demonstration and petition by locals opposing it has been thrown out by councillors against the recommendation of planning officials.
The would be developer of the Braes of Ullapool proposal for nine pods is now considering his options after the "rather bizarre" planning process.
But protesters concerned about road safety are jubilant following Highland Council's north planning applications committee meeting.
The proposal by Ossian Developments was met with staunch opposition when they it emerged and was accordingly reworked.
Council officers had recommended approval and were left in a difficult position when Transport Scotland did not object over an access leading from the U5065 Braes Road opponents consider dangerous.
Local councillor Ian Cockburn said the road issues were his major concern who said he knew the road and had returned weeks ago to check it out. He said: “When you are coming up there you have to slow down to 15 mph or less because you have got a double bend to go around – now if you are any faster than that and you don’t know that road you will come off the road."
Expressing his reservartions, he said: "I’ve nothing against developments like this because maybe it stops people buying up local housing and putting up prices and keeping it away from local people or putting them on the market as Airbnbs. So there is an argument for this type of development but this is the wrong place.”
His Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh ward colleague, Cllr Biz Campbell, tabled a motion to refuse.
She said that given the dimension of the carriageway and the lack of footways along the U5065, a development of this scale within the Braes of Ullapool would exacerbate road conditions.
She said that despite reference to improvement works in the report and no objection from Transport Scotland, she felt "the geometry of the A835 and the vicinity of its junction with the Braes’ road has resulted in a substandard sight line and poor visibility for those exiting".
She said a development of this scale would intensify the use of this junction to the detriment of road safety and that it appeared no mitigation is proposed to address this concern.
She added: “Number three, given the proposed loss of trees for the development, I am of the opinion that this application would have a significant detrimental impact on the visual and residential amenity for the Braes residents.”
The award-winning tourism businessman behind Ossian Developments, Lawrence Young, said after the meeting: "I listened to it carefully and want to listen again and note all the points made and the opinions given. Then to consider them well, before drawing conclusions and thinking of next steps.
"Our 18-month journey with this application has been determined by planning authority advice, local and regional development policies and public authority guidance.
"In listening to local concerns and responding to professional advice we have altered and adjusted the proposals with care and concern.
"The scheme had the approval of the planning authority but not of councillors – at the moment this entire process all seems rather bizarre."
Related: Crunch time for pods' bid
