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Loch Tay Area Building Creep

New building proposals on untouched agricultural land place the traditional environment and landscape under threat, claims John Allen of Morenish, Killin

There has been a creep of building development in the Loch Tay area between 2004 to 2007. Do we want it or need it or is it counter-productive?

The focus of these comments is less upon the ‘major’ developments in the area and more upon the ‘lesser’, smaller scale proposals and developments along the A827 road from Kenmore to Killin.  However, for an appreciation of the whole context, the effects of ‘major’ developments will also be significant, especially on the road itself and the users of the road, so these are presented at the start.

Major developments

At Kenmore: P&KC Approved £74m Taymouth Castle complex – planned as a 6 star hotel and leisure complex – future plans unknown, but progressing, albeit slowly.

• At Kenmore:  P&KC Approved Taymouth Holiday centre with 58 residential units, leisure centre, etc
• At Kenmore:  Kenmore Hotel proposal to P&KC for extensive development 2008 onwards
• At Kenmore : Existing Kenmore Club Timeshares already developed
• At Fearnan: P&KC Approved Tigh an Loan development of residential units for 2008 with new infrastructure
• At Morenish:  P&KC Approved Loch Tay Highland Lodges expansion – approx 25 more lodges with improved infrastructure

Some Lesser Developments

• 1) At Rynachulig Farm, Morenish:  Outline plan to P&KC for 3 dwelling houses with new infrastructure, previously refused, now subject to appeal to Scottish Government’s Reporter (site visit due 9 January 2008).  Development on open rural pasture, previously undeveloped
• 2) At Morenish Chapel: New (October 2007) outline proposal to P&KC – 07/02234/OUT - for a Visitor Centre, with new infrastructure, on previously undeveloped pasture
• 3) At Morenish: P&KC Fully approved new modern dwelling house, with new infrastructure, 100m west of Morenish Cottage, located on previously undeveloped agricultural ground in open countryside
• 4) Near Lawers at Tombreck Farm: P&KC Approved community development for sustainable housing and employment at existing small hill farm
• 5) Near Killin, on Stirling side of P&KC/Stirling Council border: New Proposed outline plan – 07/00928/OUT - holiday chalets (approx 12) opposite Clachan Caravan Park.  This development is on open agricultural land with no buildings present or past.

Transport Impact

All of the ‘Lesser Developments’ affect the A827 road from Aberfeldy to Killin, a road that is under pressure from the considerable extra traffic that is already generated during the tourist season.  The A827 is narrower than most A roads for almost the whole of this length, with even narrower one-way bridges and some unexpectedly sharp and narrow bends.  The whole road is adequately signed, but as it is mostly derestricted, traffic does take advantage of the 60mph facility, especially at week-ends when bikers can let themselves loose!

The landscape of the north side of Loch Tay is of importance to visitors and residents alike.  The visual attractions of open, rural countryside and uninterrupted views from near and far provide the baseline for its overall tranquillity.  Peace and quiet are the main virtues that people cherish here, and wish to retain and pass on to the next generation.  Threats to this environment are not new (eg speedboats and waterskiers on the loch).  At least for the present no huge electricity pylons or turbines are being considered.  But in the last few years, with the decline of sheep farming, new uses for the land are being proposed.  The business of tourism is at the root of most proposals.

Environment Threats

Specifically, the main known threats to the environment and landscape on the northern side of Loch Tay lie in the proposed and approved holiday home development at Fearnan, the dwelling house proposals at Rynachulig, the approved extra 24 chalets at Loch Tay Highland Lodges, the proposed Visitor Centre at Morenish, and the proposed chalet developments opposite the Clachan Caravan Park east of Killin on the 827 road to Aberfeldy.

Of course the individual applicants for these proposals do not see the whole picture, but merely their own enterprise, and press hard within the various official policies.  Naturally they tend to slant their wording to suit current trends.  It is up to the rest of the community or individuals to react to proposals that are all set out in public, but regrettably we are all guilty of inertia here.  Generally, the applicants are much more highly motivated and persistent.

With reference to the Lesser Developments referred to above, serious consideration should be given to rejecting items 1), 2) and 5), all on grounds that they would be building developments on previously open farmland that has no recent history of building development.  The result of building on these three sites would make visual (and basic ground surface) impacts that are alien to open, untouched countryside.  Individually and collectively they would contribute to the attrition of that sense of peace and quiet with undisturbed views, possibly leading by precedent to a rash of more development.