Planners welcome hotel's rebuild

Plans to revive a hotel in Taynuilt which was badly damaged by fire two years ago have been given the go-ahead.

 

Taynuilt Inn was destroyed in the blaze in September 2021, with a large part of the building later having to be demolished due to safety concerns.

 

Management at the hotel have now had applications for planning permission and listed building consent approved by Argyll and Bute Council.

 

Planners have welcomed the building being brought back into use for the village.

 

The plans, which also include two self-catering units being built, attracted three representations from members of the public.

 

A condition is included that all of the self-contained apartments are occupied in association with the main hotel therefore restricting them from being occupied on a permanent residential basis.

 

A council planning officer said in a handling report: “The current application is seeking to secure planning permission for the rehabilitation and extension of the hotel together with the construction of a new building to the rear of the hotel to provide two self-catering units.

 

“The original submission included a proposal to culvert the burn running along the eastern boundary of the site and redevelop the existing outbuildings to the east of the hotel building to provide additional self-catering accommodation.

 

“However, this aspect of the proposal has since been removed from the application due to flood risk concerns raised by the council’s flooding advisors."

 

The proposal involves the reconstruction of the main hotel building with the main front elevation reinstated to its former appearance before being devastated by fire.

 

Two-and-a-half storey pitched roof extensions are proposed projecting from the rear elevation of the main hotel building which will effectively result in a courtyard-styled formation.

 

A new glazed conservatory with elements of timber cladding is proposed at ground floor level to the rear elevation of the hotel between the two proposed rear extensions which will provide seating for the hotel restaurant.

 

The planned conservatory will open out onto a terraced area which will provide outdoor seating.

 

The officer added: “Over its two-and-a-half floors, the hotel refurbishment will provide a bar and restaurant and a mix of en-suite bedrooms and self-contained apartments.

 

“The self-contained apartments at ground floor level will have their own external entrance to the east elevation with those on the first and second floors accessed from within the hotel.

 

“A condition will be imposed on the grant of permission to ensure that all of the self-contained apartments are occupied in association with the main hotel and will restrict them from being occupied on a permanent residential basis.

 

“In addition to the hotel refurbishment, the application proposes an ancillary building to the rear of the main hotel building set against the northern boundary of the site.

 

“The ancillary building comprises a single storey, pitched roof structure with accommodation in its roof space which will provide two self-contained units for letting purposes associated with the main hotel building.

 

“It is considered that the scheme for the refurbishment and extension of the Taynuilt Inn has been sympathetically designed and will bring this important building within this small village back into use, which is welcomed by the planning authority.”