The owner of Hillhead Caravan Park near Kintore, Scotland, has been refused planning permission for a second time after councillors rejected revised proposals to expand the site.
Helen Sutherland had applied to add 12 touring mobile home pitches and 13 holiday lodges at the caravan park, located west of Kintore. The proposal also included a replacement amenities building with toilet, laundry and dining facilities for guests.
Aberdeenshire councillors first considered the application in June 2026 but agreed to visit the site before reaching a decision. Concerns had been raised about the surrounding roads and the potential effect of the proposed expansion on neighboring Hillhead Croft.
The revised application was ultimately considered by the Garioch Area Committee in August 2026. Council planning officers recommended approval, saying the updated proposal was “positive” and would reduce the potential impact on Hillhead Croft.
Sutherland told councillors that the expansion was important to the long-term sustainability and vitality of the caravan park. Councillor Moray Grant also acknowledged the changes made to the proposal, saying Sutherland had been “going the extra mile” to address concerns.
Grant nevertheless proposed additional measures, including a 20-meter buffer of evergreen trees between the croft and the proposed extension to provide year-round privacy. He also suggested a passing place on the lane leading from the caravan park to help ensure residents of the croft could access their property safely.
Councillor Jim Gifford, however, argued that the revised plans had not resolved the concerns that led to the previous refusal. He also raised concerns about the loss of what he described as the last open space around the caravan park, saying approval would leave Hillhead Croft “completely surrounded”.
The committee voted 8-7 to refuse the application, according to The Press & Journal.
The decision follows an earlier proposal submitted by Sutherland in 2024 for an 18-lodge expansion. That application was refused by Aberdeenshire councillors after concerns that the development would have a “significant and unacceptable” impact on residents of Hillhead Croft. Sutherland subsequently appealed to the Scottish Government, but ministers upheld the refusal.
Following the latest decision, Sutherland told The Press and Journal: “I’m disappointed as it went in recommended for approval.
“There was a lot of talk about roads but it had already been approved by the council’s roads team so I felt that was irrelevant.
“I want to thank the seven councillors who did vote the correct way.”
She added: “All the council wanted last time was a passing place so I cured that problem, then I went back and it turned into another thing.
“But it’s done now and that’s it. In life, if you fall down you’ve got to get back up.”
Sutherland has not yet decided whether to make another appeal to the Scottish Government and said she would take time to consider her options.
For caravan park operators, the case highlights the importance of addressing not only the operational benefits of a proposed expansion but also site-specific concerns raised by neighboring properties and planning authorities.
Even where planning officers recommend approval, elected committees can reach a different decision, particularly where issues such as privacy, access, traffic and the relationship between a development and nearby properties remain contested.
