Green light given to demolish Aviemore 'landmark'

Plans to knock down an Aviemore 'landmark' have been given the go-ahead – but only just.

Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's planning committee have given the go-ahead to the demolition of Dalfaber Farmhouse and its replacement with a much larger contemporary house.

The decision was a close-run thing with an eventual vote going 9-7 in favour of the planners' recommendation after a debate lasting nearly 80 minutes.

Aviemore Community Council had objected to the bid by Binnybridge-based Central Demolition to knock down the old farmhouse overlooking the first tee at the Macdonald Spey Valley golf club.

Watchdog chairman Peter Long had told planners in its submission: “We feel it is important that the built heritage of the area is preserved wherever possible.

“We note that preservation of this building was a condition of the wider planning approval given for this site, and we are of the view that nothing has changed and that this should remain a requirement.

“The existing building is a well-known local landmark and should be preserved.”

He also pointed out the new house is ‘a significant departure from the style and size of the old farmhouse’ and the modern materials proposed are not in keeping with the surroundings.

He added that the watchdog presumed that the overall development remains financially viable and it is up to the developer to manage the costs to comply with the conditions of the original planning permission.

The viewpoints gained a lot of sympathy at the planning meeting

Committee member Derek Ross claimed that if the application was approved then it would send out the wrong message.

He told fellow members it would enable developers to leave properties derelict and allow them to become run down to get their new plans through.

Planners told them that the building had been empty for many years; the building was unsafe and the renovation was not financially feasible due to the extent of works now needed.

They said that this had been the findings of a building inspector report compiled for the developers.

He said that in effect a new version of the old farmhouse would need to be built as it could no longer be salvaged.

Planning officer Alan Atkins highlighted that the existing farmhouse was not a listed building and the new house ‘will have a positive impact on the appearance of this derelict site and the character of the surrounding area’.

He concluded in his report: “The proposed demolition of the existing derelict farmhouse and the erection of a new dwelling house at Dalfaber Farmhouse is considered to be acceptable.

“In terms of design and amenity, the proposed new dwelling will not have significant impact on the site and the surrounding area.”

More on this story in next week's Strathy on sale on Thursday.

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