New designs address drainage issue at Glengarry Viewpoint visitor centre

Brought forward by Mars Commercial Property Holdings Ltd, part of the Mars and Black Sheep group of companies, the proposed viewpoint development will provide visitors with safe parking and a high level of service provision, including food, shopping, and toilet facilities.

Very similar in scale and nature to established visitor centres and associated facilities at the Old Man of Storr, Corrieshalloch Gorge, Ben Nevis and Glencoe, the proposals are wholly supportive of The Highland Council’s broader tourism objectives aimed at improving roadside infrastructure for visitors.

A previous planning application was recently withdrawn by Mars following detailed consideration of a localised water supply and related drainage issue raised at a late stage in the application process. This necessitated a material change to the proposals to satisfactorily address the technical matters raised.

The proposed development represents a significant private-sector investment estimated at £20 million. In addition to jobs created during the construction period, it will operationally employ around 50 people on site, which is predicted to increase over time. The economic benefits of the development are substantial for a rural area, while significantly contributing to Scottish Government’s strategic tourism strategy.

To date, since 2017, the Mars and Black Sheep group has invested more than £75m in the hospitality sector in the Highlands, employing more than 170 people, making it one of the largest investors and employers in the Lochaber and wider Highlands area.

The development of Glengarry Viewpoint will provide visitors with the opportunity to safely visit the site and reduce unmanaged stopping. During peak season, especially, traffic at the viewpoint can cause significant safety issues. The existing lay-by would be closed and converted to a standard grass verge to ensure that no motorists stop at this location, and they use the proposed designated car park, greatly enhancing road safety.

On-site facilities will include a dedicated space within the proposed visitor centre for local artisans to display and sell their products.

The viewpoint is particularly famous for its views stretching to the farthest reaches of Knoydart on the west coast, with beautiful mountain ranges, and, from this angle, Loch Garry appears to take on the shape of mainland Scotland.

Under the previous ownership, trees have been allowed to grow, completely obscuring views from the iconic viewpoint. These will also be removed as part of the development proposals, giving visitors access to this fabulous vista again.

Concerns have been consistently raised over the years about litter, human faeces and general waste being dumped at the viewpoint, which is frequently used as an open-air toilet. By providing a managed facility including toilets and litter collection, the proposed centre will address this, complementing the scenic setting while supporting tourism objectives.

Foul drainage from the proposed development buildings will be collected and treated by a bespoke wastewater treatment system, in compliance with the strict Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) regulations that govern such matters.

Furthermore, the applicant, consistent with its well-established hotel and catering businesses in Inverness, Fort William, Invergarry, Loch Lochy and Glen Shiel, is also fully committed to ensuring the use of local supply chains, businesses, firms and services in order to help improve community resilience and increase spending in the local area.

Black Sheep Management Group currently operates several very successful hotels in the Highlands - The Whispering Pine Lodge at Spean Bridge, The Cluanie Inn at Glenmoriston, Rokeby Manor at Invergarry and the Ambassador Hotel in Inverness.

Additionally, it operates self-catering apartments at St Andrew’s House in Fort William and pizzerias in Fort William and Inverness.

A spokesperson for Mars Commercial said: “Our proposed development of Glengarry Viewpoint will deliver significant investment in rural tourism support infrastructure, with minimal environmental impacts and enhance the visitor experience.

“The previous planning application to Highland Council was withdrawn following detailed consideration of a localised water supply and related drainage issue very recently raised at a late stage in the application process. Our revised proposals satisfactorily address this.

“In addition to delivering a cleaner environment, significantly improved visitor facilities and addressing road safety issues, the development will also deliver local employment opportunities, both directly and via the supply chain. We are also providing local artisans with the opportunity to promote their wares in our visitor centre.

“Visitor centre developments such as these, be it Corrieshalloch Gorge or the Old Man of Storr in the Highlands which, by their very nature, are located in remoter locations, bring considerable socio-economic benefits to the local area, while attracting and supporting visitors to the Highlands from other parts of the UK and wider afield.”

The local community will have the opportunity to learn more about the revised proposals, ask questions and provide feedback, prior to the submission of the revised planning application at drop-in events to be held on Thursday 11th June and Thursday 25th June at Glengarry Community Hall, between 3.30pm and 6.30pm.