We are over the moon to announce that have won planning approval to construct our replica broch. This is truly fantastic news!
Granting the application under delegated powers, Highland Council planning officer Craig Simms, said: “The development will support the local economy by creating employment opportunities during the construction phase and through the ongoing operation and management of the broch as a tourism and cultural attraction.
“[The broch will] contribute to diversifying the local economy in Caithness, an area identified as economically fragile, by strengthening the tourism sector and enhancing the visitor offering in the region.
“[And it will] retain and reinvest value locally, with benefits such as local construction contracts, the use of local suppliers where possible, and future opportunities for local businesses (e.g. food, crafts, guiding services) to engage with visitors to the site.”
They added that the proposal also “aligns” with Highland Council’s economic development priorities, which focus on place-based regeneration, tourism development, and support for rural and remote communities.
“By creating new economic opportunities and promoting local enterprise in a way that retains value within the community, the proposal is fully compliant with [planning policies] and contributes meaningfully to six broader community wealth building objectives for the region"
NatureScot had voiced its objection over the potential impact on breeding merlin and hen harriers during construction. However, they added that: “if the proposal is carried out strictly in accordance with the following mitigation, our conclusion is that the proposal will not adversely affect the integrity of the site”.
Conditions have been attached to ensure that pre-construction checks are made for any breeding merlin and hen harriers on the site, and that buffer zones protecting them from the work be created if any are found.
This has been a long journey - beginning well over two years ago - and is the result of a lot of hard work from the team. We trudged across the hillside measuring peat depths; we carried out extensive community consultations; we obtained funding for all the relevant road and access issues.
None worked as hard to push this over the finish line as our very own Dawn Maclean, though, so we must offer huge thanks for the mountain of work she put in. What an achievement!
