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	News from Escape Lodge
AUg 10th 2010 April 9th March 16th 2010 September 21st 200	Planning Committee Decision Last date for support and objections Planning application lodged and validated Planning Application delayed by changes in legislation	Planning decision due on Highland Eco-lodge and thatched village The application has the seal of approval from the planning officer. The application, which has had 29 letters of objection and 28 in support, comes before Ross, Skye and Lochaber Planning Committee in Portree this Tuesday 10th August. The Planning officer's report recommends that the committee grant permission and states: "There are no over-riding objections. The mass of the lodge is considered significant in terms of its footprint, but it is considered that it has been carefully designed, has narrow gables and a low ridge height. It is positioned so that it is below the C19 Road. The thatched buildings are smaller in scale. The choice of materials are merited, and well considered. The woodland planting scheme will assist in the absorption of the scheme into the landscape. It will not hide the building, but then planting should not be utilised to screen development but assist in its sense of place. Given planting surrounds the application site, the woodland will not be considered to appear out of place." "Planning policies support development for tourism. It is recognised that the site is a woodland plantation. Re-stocking was carried out after the felling as required by the Forestry Commission. The proposal is not for a private holiday home nor a house, but a facility which would provide visitors with a place to stay and visit. The scheme requires a set number of criteria as a visitor attraction. In considering all these aspects, in particular that it will ensure the long term maintenance of the woodland, it is considered that the development is acceptable." Becky Thomson, Director of Escape Lodge Ltd. said: "We are grateful to the majority of people of the Dundonnell area who have been supportive or, at the very least, did not object. We also fully understand why any new proposals in such a sensitive area would be alarming and why people raised the objections they did. If we are granted planning permission we hope to show that fears are not grounded and that we can bring something special to the area without damaging or jeopardising the very special qualities of beauty and tranquillity that attract people. We want to be good neighbours, be friendly and have a positive impact." "I first observed the economic problems of the Highlands when I worked for Moray Firth Radio in Inverness. This was during the eighties economic recession and I was engaged to make programmes to help the huge numbers of unemployed people in the area. Later, as a TV sound recordist I travelled the Highlands and Islands , seeing how fragile the economy is and being dismayed at how many young people have to leave. I became determined to plan a business which could work in a small community and use - but not damage - the natural beauty of the landscape as the main resource. I've been an environmentalist all my life and am committed to protecting and enhancing our beautiful world - that's not going to change." The full report is available at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/AE2BB279-DAF1-4544-B645-8079D8FDF3C1/0/PLR06710.pdf Please take a look here and support the application on the council's eplanning site - it's easy! At long, long, last the application is in.   We have found ourselves unintentional victims of the major two-year phased changes to Scottish planning legislation. Now  we are categorised as a Major development (because of the site area) this lumps us in with power stations and bridges. So the planning officer has four months rather than two to make a determination. If you support us please, please leave a comment on the planning site.  You can view all the submitted documents there if you have a few weeks to spend on it! We lodged our planning application on September 8th.  Little did we (or the planning department) know that a few weeks earlier new legislation came into place which re-categorised the Escape Lodge development as a 'Major Development' because our site is over 2 hectares in size.   A 'Major' development is required to notify the Planning Department 12 weeks in advance of submitting a planning application.  Because nobody knew this was going to happen, obviously we did not submit notification!  We've done that now and we will also have to advertise and hold a public meeting despite the fact that we have previously written to every Dundonnell household and held a public meeting.  This glitch in the legislation has caused problems for lots of developments so we are hoping it may yet get sorted out.
November 19th 2009	Community Consultation Information	Community Consultation - Notice of a Public Event Saturday  28th November 3 - 5pm Dundonnell Hotel Regarding the proposed erection of Escape Lodge 8 bedroom eco-lodge, 8 traditional-style thatched holiday letting units, service building, formation of access road, associated services and 10kw micro-hydro scheme. Location: Land 430m east of Rose Cottage, Badrallach Road, Dundonnell, Ross-shire. Members of the community will be aware that a consultation was carried out earlier this year and we would like to thank those who took the time to respond or attend. New legislation now requires that we repeat the public event before re-submitting the planning application. Comments and enquiries are welcome by telephone, writing or email and may be submitted to Escape Lodge Ltd up until December 21st 2009.