REVISED proposals for a visitor centre, café, shop, and associated car and coach parking on land at the Glengarry Viewpoint have been unveiled.
The proposals have been launched by Mars Commercial Property Holdings Ltd, part of the Mars and Black Sheep group of companies. The development is described as being ‘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.
A previous planning application lodged with The Highland Council was recently withdrawn by Mars following consideration of a localised water supply and related drainage issue that was raised during the application process. This necessitated a material change to the proposals.
The proposed development represents a private sector investment estimated at £20 million. In addition to jobs during the construction period, it is tipped to operationally employ around 50 people on site, predicted to increase over time.
Since 2017, the Mars and Black Sheep group has invested more than £75 million in the hospitality sector in the Highlands, employing more than 170 people.
The development of Glengarry Viewpoint will provide visitors with the opportunity to visit the site and reduce unmanaged stopping. The existing lay-by would be closed and converted to a standard grass verge to ensure no motorists stop at this location. Onsite facilities will include a dedicated space within the visitor centre for local artisans to sell their products.
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 The previous planning application to Highland Council was withdrawn following detailed consideration of a localised water supply and related drainage issue very recently raised at a late stage in the application process.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.”
The local community will have the opportunity to learn more about the 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.
