Jura 'divided' after golf resort gets its staff hostel

A plan to build a 40-bed hostel in the Isle of Jura's main village for staff at the luxury golf resort at Jura House on the Ardfin Estate has been approved by councillors at a local hearing, leaving the island 'divided'.

 

Ardfin Estate, a 12,000 acre estate on Jura's southern tip bought by hedge-fund manager Greg Coffey in 2010, applied to build 'essential' accommodation for 40 permanent and seasonal transient staff working at its five-star hotel and 18-hole golf course.

 

The single and 1½ storey development in Craighouse, four miles away on Jura's single track road, would share access with 10 new affordable houses on 'Otter Brae', just completed by West Highland Housing Association (WHHA).

 

In a design statement, Ardfin's achitects explained: 'Currently, staff are in temporary accommodation or ‘pods’ on the estate, but this is neither a long- or medium-term sustainable option.

 

'The site has been chosen to locate the staff as close as possible to the essential local amenity services at Craighouse, and to create a residential environment separate and distinct from their working environment.

 

'The chosen site is within a pre-determined settlement zone, and offers minimal visual impact when compared with alternative sites on the estate, closer to Jura House.'

 

The single and 1½ storey development is, it adds, 'critical to the operation of Ardfin Estate and Golf Course, and it is anticipated that the employment generated by the business will contribute to sustaining population levels on the island and provide long-term employment opportunities including skills and knowledge.'

 

The target completion date is April 2023.

 

The application attracted 25 objections, including from Jura Community Council, which argued: 'Current services and infrastructure such as road capacity, road safety, ferry service, shop storage, water and sewerage, utilities, and emergency and healthcare may be negatively impacted due to the scale of this development. Most of these services are already stretched beyond capacity.' It also asked for a community consultation.

 

A summary of other objections can be found in a previous article on our website.

 

Argyll and Bute Council's planning officers recommended the plan for approval, but councillors on the planning, protective services and licensing (PPSL) committee agreed to decide at a local hearing, held in Jura Village Hall on Tuesday, November 15.

 

The meeting heard a supportive representation from Ardfin Estate, as well as objections from Jura Community Council, a group of objectors, and ward councillor Dougie McFadzean.

 

The group of objectors asked the PPSL to refuse the plan, as contrary to several policies. It argued the 'large scale' development would overwhelm the settlement's capacity and erode the area's residential character, and that the demand for it had not been demonstrated.

 

'No alternative location has been investigated,' they said, adding that vacant buildings are available. It also argued the plan does not help reduce population decline, meet a local housing need, or deliver affordable housing.

 

Councillor Luna Martin, a member of the PPSL, moved the decision be postponed. She told us: 'This development could bring an influx of people all at once and the island's resources - it has one shop - could not sustain that, or would have difficulty.' The number of objections represented a large percentage of the island's 220 residents, she added. 'A lot of people had the same concerns.'

 

A motion to approve the plan, moved by PPSL chairperson Councillor Kieron Green, won the day, with four votes to two. Councillor Green told us: 'Members of the PPSL committee had the opportunity to visit the site of the proposed development, and at a hearing gave careful consideration to the information presented. The plans complied with policies relating to the environment and economy.'

 

Afterwards, one objector told us: 'That the application was passed, despite this overwhelming local objection, shows the planning process does not work for communities like Jura.'

 

'There are people scared on the island to put their name to anything, because they work on the estate or live in one of the houses,' Councillor McFadzean told The Oban Times.

 

'It has divided the island. There are two camps. There is some support on the island. I understand why the decision was made, but I have reservations. It is very close to the village. It is modular, which does not exist on the island. It is akin to a bedsit.

 

'The application followed the guidelines. A lot of the objections were emotional. There are a lot of disappointed and angry people. There is a divide that needs to be repaired. It is a small, fragile community. It could fester on.'