Ardtower Caravan Park owners Iain Mackintosh and Elaine Pope ask Highland Council planners to approve gym and swimming pool plan as part of Culloden complex's expansion
An Inverness touring, camping and glamping park is seeking the green light to expand and improve visitor facilities as part of a major investment.
Ardtower Caravan Park’s owners Iain Mackintosh and Elaine Pope want to create a large clubhouse at the site just off Culloden Road.
The building would feature a swimming pool, cafe, gym games room, garage, deck area and a manager’s flat to enable a 24-hour staff presence.
They also plan to invest in new accommodation pods, with access road, parking, pathways and landscaping works.
A revised design statement submitted to planning officials was not available on Highland Council’s portal, but the original outlined the owners’ motivation for reinvesting in the park, which opened under their management in 2016.
As well as the facilities listed, it described how evening meals would be available to visitors on-site for the first time.
There would be a further 10 self-contained sleeping pods with design and layout sympathetic to the surrounding environment.
It added: “We have decided to do this to enhance our site as the sheer volume of customers now holidaying in the UK has surged dramatically following Covid.
“... in light of this, we are convinced we can attract further customers to visit the Highlands and to stay longer, which hopefully in turn supports our local communities.”
The investment would also create work for cleaners, serving and supervisory staff.
The contemporary, steel-roofed design, with large glazing areas would be sited so as to provide views to the south-east.
The development would also be one of the few of its type in the broader area providing a swimming pool and spa facility.
In conclusion, the design statement said the project fitted well with Highland Council’s planning guidelines for supporting tourism. Neighbours would not be affected, with no properties overlooking the new development.
The only noise generated would be from children playing outdoors.
The application, with a neighbour consultation deadline on December 26, will be considered under planning officials delegated powers, with a determination deadline of January 28.