Bus tycoon Ann Gloag plans holiday development at her castle near Beauly
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Business tycoon Dame Ann Gloag is planning a holiday development on her estate at Beaufort Castle near Beauly.
Although full details have yet to be revealed, the proposed project includes woodland visitor accommodation with associated landscaping, access and footpaths. Parking and other associated buildings are also planned.
A Proposal of Application Notice has already been lodged with Highland Council and a public consultation will be held at Kiltarlity Village Hall on September 25.
An 18 hectare site of former plantation forestry between the River Beauly and the A833 has been earmarked for the project.
The application has been lodged under the name of Edinburgh-based Gloag Investments of which Mrs Gloag is a director.
Mrs Gloag, who co-founded the international Stagecoach transport group with her brother Sir Brian Souter, bought Beaufort Castle in 1995 after the 16th Lord Lovat, Simon Fraser, was forced to sell his inheritance to pay off family debts. She also owns Kinfauns Castle, near Perth.
The application is being handled by Angus Dodds of Savills Planning in Edinburgh.
“Our client is hoping to bring forward a development which will meet a latent demand from a growing number of visitors to the local area," he said.
"The emerging proposals take inspiration from the surrounding woodland and the landscape and historical context of the site.
"It is important to all in the project team that the scheme remains proportionate in scale and sensitive in form to its riverside surroundings.
“The concept is at a very early stage and no planning application has yet been made.
" However, the project team is keen to hear the public’s thoughts, to ensure that the project can be informed by local considerations as far as possible.
“The next stage would be to submit a planning application to Highland Council at which point there would be an opportunity to make representations on the application to the planning authority.”
It is not the first time Mrs Gloag has been involved in plans for a holiday development in the grounds of Beaufort Castle.
In 2006, she was part of a consortium which submitted a controversial proposal for a £20 million golf complex with a championship course, hotel and 81 luxury homes plus banqueting suite and bars.
But the application, which had been recommended for refusal by council planning officers on the basis of insufficient details, was unexpectedly withdrawn within minutes of councillors starting a site meeting.
The plan had also attracted objections from Lord Lovat, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Highland Cycle Campaign, Garden History Society, Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.
The consortium, which also involved Inverness construction company Tulloch, said at the time that officials had not given access to vital information and pledged to resubmit the plans.
The drop-in exhibition on September 25 will take place between 2pm and 7pm. There will be chance for the public to see the emerging proposals for the site and discuss the proposed development with members of the project team.
In addition to making written comments at the event, further representations can subsequently be made by email to adodds@savills.com or by post to Angus Dodds, 8 Wemyss Place, Edinburgh. EH3 6DH.
