PLANS for new tourist accommodation off the A82 at Bridge of Orchy have been lodged with council officers.
Management of the Auch Estate have submitted the proposal, which would see a central guest hub, a four-bedroom unit and a two-bedroom unit built at the former Auch Lodge site.
A statement submitted with the plans said that management remained “excited and focused on growing the agri-tourism business”.
Argyll and Bute Council planning officers are expected to rule on the proposal before Christmas, with the public now able to view the plans and submit feedback.
A design and access statement by ABC planning and design said: “In relation to the replacement lodge, the estate has given its business model significant consideration over the past 18 months.
“A decision has been taken to change the operating business model to prioritise a serviced self-catering/ exclusive use lodge that is still capable of being let room by room like a hotel, supported by the recent change of use for the existing staff cottages to give flexibility for the estate to accommodate more self-catering guests. In this plan, staff levels will be 12 full posts [and] three part-time and agency/seasonal staff as required.
“The reason for this change of direction has been borne out to the estate’s overall market analysis on the types of accommodation in demand in locations and landscapes like Auch, a review of expected visitor/guest experiences and developing a strong experienced and efficient estate team on the ground.
“Our client’s brief was to design one single building with the guest accommodation grouped around communal facilities.
“The brief and tourism business strategy also called for buildings that with modern materiality and clean detailing that reflected the form and massing of traditional Highland estate buildings.”
The statement added: “Each of the accommodation clusters within the lodge was to be private from one another and yet close enough to have immediate access to the communal facilities.
“This will allow privacy to individually let units but also allows for all the accommodation to be let to a single party and all guests to have easy use of the central hub of communal/leisure facilities.
“An essential part of the brief was for the building to be energy efficient and the opportunity for off-site construction methods to be adopted.”
To view the plans and submit feedback, visit the council’s planning portal at argyll-bute.gov.uk and use the reference number 25/01683/PP.
