Refreshed plans for a £40million tourist resort on the banks of Loch Lomond have been publicly lodged.
Flamingo Land has now submitted outline planning submission to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park for the development at West Riverside and Woodbank House in Balloch.
Proposals include a 60-bed apart-hotel, 32-bed budget hotel, up to 127 self-catering lodges, a monorail, leisure pool, water park, spa, water sports hub, restaurants, cafe and craft brewery with a pub.
If agreed, A-listed Woodbank House, would be refurbished to provide up to 15 self-catering apartments and there are also proposals for a visitor reception, performance areas, children’s play areas and picnic and barbecue sites.
The firm say there are “fundamental changes” to the original plans following nearly 12 months of consultation.
Flamingo Land withdrew plans almost three years ago for the holiday village after Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park planners recommended they be refused.
It followed thousands of objections including a petition amassing almost 60,000 signatures.
Developers say they have responded to planners’ concerns with their previous proposal, as well as consulting closely with the community.
The Yorkshire-based company has made some changes this time round, including the complete removal of any development in the ancient woodland of Drumkinnon Wood.
Green MSP Ross Greer has been opposed to the plans from the outset and commented: “This is a huge application and it’s going to take us some time to digest the details but it looks like our Save Loch Lomond campaign has scored at least one major win, the preservation of Drumkinnon Woods.
“That being said, the overall scale of the proposals are still the same, with a roughly similar number of lodges and a hotel of exactly the same capacity as last time. This will put huge pressure on local roads and have an obvious impact on residents.
“Our concerns about continued unobstructed access to the woods for local residents also still stand and the principle of selling off public land to a private developer like this rightly makes many people feel deeply uncomfortable, so these plans are still hugely worrying.
“Flamingo Land have proven themselves totally undeserving of trust, so my team and I will be going over every last detail in all 53 documents associated with the application.
“As always, I am keen to hear from local residents so would encourage anyone with a specific concern to get in touch.”
Flamingo Land say more extensive ecological evaluations have been undertaken for this submission “to ensure a considered approach to the development and protection of the surrounding environment”.
Breaking away from its traditional portfolio of theme parks, the company say the proposed new Lomond Banks development would be centred around a new accommodation-led resort “that will be devised to complement the local environment whilst bringing much needed investment and job creation to Balloch and West Dunbartonshire”.
Access would be from the surrounding road network including Ben Lomond Way and Pier Road.
Outline planning applications allows for a decision on the general principles of how a site can be developed.
From there, the firm will seek planning permission in principle and, if approved, move onto the final stage of detailed planning permission.
Jim Paterson, development director for the Lomond Banks project, said: “After an extensive period of reflection, community liaison and enhanced ecological studies to make Lomond Banks the best it can be, I am delighted to be submitting our plans and taking forward a proposal which we believe is both robust and of benefit to the local community.
“We have listened to the issues raised throughout our consultation process, and the plans now include very significant amendments to ensure Lomond Banks will be in keeping with its environment and protect its treasured assets.
“Our environmental and commercial commitment to Balloch and West Riverside remains steadfast, and we want to complement what makes Loch Lomond so attractive to visitors. Our aim would be to invest and hire locally, as well as working with local businesses to maximise the benefits of the development for all.”
The application will be determined by National Park Authority in due course.
For more information on the plans, with details on how to access the documents, click here.
