AN APPLICATION to renew planning permission for a proposed development of houses and retail units on the shore of Loch Long has been approved.

The Arrochar Hotel initially received planning permission from the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority in July 2016.

The statutory three-year period for work to begin on the project has now expired, but the park authority’s officials have approved an application to renew the previous permission.

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A total of 18 accommodation units, with between one and four bedrooms, are part of the plans along with a 350 square metre retail complex.

Figures, though, are estimated, as the number of units and amount of floor space has yet to be finalised.

A handling report by a council planning officer said: “The site was formerly a grass football pitch and there remains a derelict pavilion on the site in the south west corner.

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“The site contains the Pitstop Café and, adjacent to that, an outbuilding which is used as a craft shop, which are both in the ownership of the Community Development Trust.

“The proposed mix of uses and broad arrangement of those uses accords with the Local Plan allocation MU1, subject to provision of housing and retail in a supporting role to facilitate delivery of the civic and community and tourism uses including tourist accommodation.

“As such this is a development proposal that would create a new hub for visitors and the community as envisaged by the Local Plan.”

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