Plans to extend Drumnadrochit’s Nessieland Castle visitor centre
Move comes as two other businesses await planning decisions
By jane candlish
P&J: Published: 19/03/2011

A Loch Ness businessman has applied for planning permission to extend his Drumnadrochit visitor centre.

Donald Skinner wants to enlarge and make alterations to the Nessieland Castle Monster Centre.

The centre includes an exhibition about the legendary monster, as well as other events in the history of Loch Ness. It also includes a shop, restaurant and children’s playground.

Mr Skinner, who also owns the adjacent Loch Ness Lodge Hotel, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Mr Skinner’s plans come as two neighbouring businesses prepare to find out whether their plans for expansion will be given the go-ahead.

A meeting of Highland Council’s Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey planning committee on Monday will consider whether to approve plans by the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition at Drumnadrochit and Jacobite Discovery Project.

Bosses at the centre want to extend their facilities and spend £2million on enhancing access, retail, catering and parking facilities. The other project is the brainchild of Jacobite Cruises, which organises boat trips along the Caledonian Canal.

The company plans to develop on 4.4 acres to include a visitor centre, costing £2.8million.

On Monday, planning committee members will visit the two proposed sites – which are less than a mile apart. Members will then view the plans side by side and decide whether to uphold recommendations by the council to approve both applications.

Read more: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2186590#ixzz1HDYuYZs6

| print this page |