PLANS for two holiday let pods to be built on the Rosneath peninsula have been refused after nine objections from the public.
Stephen Lambie made the application to Argyll and Bute Council in 2023 for the facilities, describing them as “high quality, small scale tourism accommodation”.
However, the authority has denied planning permission for the site at Mamore Farm, west of the telecoms exchange on Shore Road at Peaton, nearly two years later.
Objectors expressed concerns on several matters, including the possible loss of woodland, the site’s location within a flood plain, and proximity to Faslane Naval Base.
A council planning officer said in a handling report: “The proposals for two holiday letting pods should pay regard to the relevant tourism policies.
“It is noted that there is no existing development within the countryside zone between the settlement zones of Coulport/Letter and Ardpeaton (where this proposal site is located) that is located on the seaward side of the B833.
“Furthermore, the next countryside zone between Ardpeaton and Kilcreggan/Cove also has no development on the seaward side of the B833.
“Within the neighbouring settlement boundary of Coulport/Letter which is approximately 160m north of the application site all development is located exclusively on the landward side of the B833 and there is no existing development to the seaward side of the road within this settlement boundary.
“It is, however, recognised that there is development on the seaward side of the main road in nearby neighbouring settlement of Ardpeaton.
“This development is either historical development or is re-development on brownfield sites and is not on a greenfield site. The application site is greenfield, considered to be undeveloped coast.
“On this basis it is considered that the proposals would not comply with LDP2 (local development plan 2) policy 02 as the application would be the only development on the seaward side of the B833 within the surrounding area and would therefore not considered to be appropriate siting.”
The officer added: “With regards to the design of the pods in particular these are prefabricated and will be brought to site, they are not a site specific design.
“NPF4 (national planning framework 4) policy 14 states notes that development should be distinctive in that local architectural styles and natural landscape should be regarded.
“In this regards it is not considered that prefabricated felt clad pods are an appropriate response to the site and would conflict with this policy.”
