Plans for Banff holiday lodge with hot tub and fire pit given green light after initial rejection

Plans for a new holiday lodge with six bedrooms, a hot tub and outdoor dining area on the outskirts of Banff have been approved by Aberdeenshire Council.

Designs show how the proposed six-bedroom lodge would contain a range of stunning features, from an outdoor fire pit and hot tub, to a modern interior inside a fully accessible building.

Situated just under a mile south of the town, the site will be created adjacent to the existing Craig Alvah Lodge near the River Deveron.

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The application comes amid a boom in tourism in the area, with over 1,100 guests staying at the nearby Craig Alvah site in 2022 alone.

Developers say the proposed dwelling is expected to accommodate over 1,000 new guests per year, bringing "a substantial number of much-needed tourists to Banff and the local area."

They added: "As a result of the global pandemic there has been an increase in tourism within Scotland and an increase in multi-generation family holidays.

"The proposed property will provide additional high quality affordable accommodation at Bridge of Alvah and allow the business to adapt to the changing needs of the tourism industry, securing its long-term future.

"In turn, this also supports tourism within Aberdeenshire and Banffshire and bring economic benefits to local businesses such as restaurants, cafes, takeaways, shops, tourist attractions and leisure facilities with the spend from an extra 3,000 bed nights in the area."

It is intended that the lodge will not provide accommodation "for the wealthy only", with the divided costs by occupancy giving a per person cost of no more than a glamping pod.

Local tradesmen, cleaners, gardeners and handymen would be used to maintain the property, with proposals also including improved access to the existing properties and the new site, taking traffic off the local and visitor walk out to the Bridge of Alvah.

The proposal consists of erecting a single storey, ‘L’ shaped contemporary dwelling with a long narrow northern wing and eastern wing.

The walls would be finished in slate and timber to give it a modern finish along with "significant" glazing through tall windows

Private garden ground is indicated to surround the property, and new planting is indicated along the southern boundary line within the site.

Plans for the new lodge were first put to councillors back in 2022, but were knocked back by Banff and Buchan councillors despite developers stating the potential tourism boost.

Resubmitted designs in September 2023 have however been given the green light, with planning officials stating: "The proposed building is considered to be suitably designed, scaled and sited, and would not result in any adverse amenity impacts to others, nor would the proposal adversely impact upon the character of the area."

You can view more on the plans here.