Flamingo Land unveils 'Lomond Banks' name, first images

The proposed development, comprising extensive residential accommodation alongside a range of leisure and retail facilities, will – if planning permission is granted – be known as Lomond Banks.

Iconic Leisure Developments announced the name for its proposed development days after a series of changes to the plans for the West Riverside and Woodbank House sites in Balloch.

The initial plans attracted a barrage of protest from campaigners who say the development will ruin the environment at the southern edge of Loch Lomond.

Thousands of people have lodged objections with the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, which will be responsible for reaching a decision on the company's proposals, since an initial planning application was lodged by Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise in June 2018.

The company said this week that the development - including a 60-bedroom apart-hotel, 32-bedroom budget accommodation, 131 self-catering units, six private houses and 15 apartments - had an anticipated completion date of 2024.

READ MORE: Changes to Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond plans unveiled

Andy Miller, director at Lomond Banks, said: “We are fully committed to seeing Balloch become the true gateway to Loch Lomond.

“Our plans for West Riverside and Woodbank House offer an opportunity for a unique leisure based development and with Lomond Banks, Scotland will have a quality destination that respects and compliments the surrounding area.

“We know that our vision for the area will add tangible value to the community and to the rest of Scotland for the next 40 years and beyond.”

A news release from Iconic Leisure Developments described the proposed Lomond Banks development as "a world class family holiday village" and said it would "bring new life to the site's extensive industrial past through improving biodiversity and providing active leisure activities, restaurants and retail".

The Yorkshire based company says some initial design strategies have been changed following public consultation.

READ MORE: Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond proposals go public at last

A viewing tower has been removed from the proposals and assurances have been given that access to all key destinations and routes through the site are to be maintained during construction.

Some permanent localised diversions may be required and plans for access gates on Pier Road will not now go ahead.

In addition, a 12 metre (minimum) wide landscape buffer has been incorporated around Drumkinnon Gate Estate.

Eighty full time jobs, 50 part-time jobs and to 70 seasonal posts are said to be in the pipeline.

READ MORE: Protesters rally against Flamingo Land plans

Last week, planning chiefs at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park revealed changes to the proposals.

They include the extension of Woodbank House to form 15 residential flats and an increased number of proposed lodges and bothies at the house from 28 to 50.

However, the number of proposed residential houses has been reduced from 20 to six.

Use of the proposed boathouse on the promontory at Drumkinnon has been changed from self-catering to storage/water based recreation and changes are also proposed to the extent of development at the pierhead.

The proposed tourism and leisure centre at West Riverside and Woodbank House, registered as valid last May, has caused huge controversy, with opponents arguing the development is not in fitting with the loch’s sensitive environment.

Petitions against Flamingo Land’s bid for planning permission in principle has received thousands of signatures and representations have flooded into to the park as planning authority.

The park’s website states: “This application is currently in the planning assessment phase.

“However this process has been paused since August 2018 as we have been waiting to receive further information requested from the applicant to allow us to conclude our assessment.”