Plans to redevelop a former Ministry of Defence torpedo testing site on the shores of Loch Long in Arrochar, Scotland, have moved forward after approval was granted by the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority.
The site in Argyll & Bute, which operated between 1912 and 1986, was historically used for military testing activities, particularly during World War II. According to project details, as many as 12,000 torpedoes were fired down Loch Long during the site’s operational years. Since its closure nearly four decades ago, the area has remained derelict.
A planning application to transform the site into a mixed-use tourism destination was first submitted in 2023 by Ardnagal Estates. Following several years of review and revisions, the National Park Authority approved the redevelopment proposal in 2026.
Earlier proposals for the project included 14 holiday homes, 34 holiday lodges, a 34-bedroom budget hotel, 20 glamping pods, six motorhome pitches, a 40-bed bunkhouse, and supporting amenities such as a café, retail space, parking, composting toilets, and shower facilities.
Plans also outlined the restoration of the pier to provide public and community access to Loch Long, along with the addition of a family play area.
Previous concepts for the property also referenced a larger 130-room hotel development, although it remains unclear whether that element will form part of the approved scheme.
Claire Chapman, chairwoman of the park authority’s planning and access committee, told The Irish Sun: “The approval of this long-standing derelict site’s redevelopment is a significant step forward in addressing what has been a blight on both the local community and the environment.
“The site has been identified in both the existing local development plan, which guides new development in the National Park, and in the community’s local place plan.”
The redevelopment reflects continued interest in converting former industrial and defense-related properties into tourism and outdoor hospitality destinations across the United Kingdom.
For professionals in the outdoor hospitality and glamping sectors, the project highlights how adaptive reuse of dormant land can create new accommodation inventory while also supporting local economic development and environmental restoration goals.
The inclusion of multiple accommodation formats — including lodges, glamping pods, bunkhouse facilities, and motorhome pitches — also illustrates the growing preference among developers to diversify offerings within a single destination.
Industry operators may view the Arrochar proposal as an example of how mixed-use tourism developments can appeal to a broader range of travelers while extending seasonal demand in rural and waterfront locations.
The project’s location within a national park setting may also provide insight into the increasing importance of balancing tourism growth with community access, environmental considerations, and planning regulations as outdoor accommodation projects continue to expand across the UK and Europe.