Plans to establish three luxury glamping pods in Laide, a village situated along Scotland’s North Coast 500 route, have been approved by the Highland Council despite receiving nearly 60 objections from local residents.
The development, proposed by Gary Hull, comes after a series of amended applications following earlier concerns about over-tourism, road safety, and environmental impacts.
Initial proposals submitted in August 2023 included four glamping pods, seven gravel campervan pitches, and a toilet block.
However, following flood risk concerns raised by council planners, the application was revised. The revised plan removed the pitches and shared facilities, instead opting for three pods equipped with private showers and toilets, to be located just off the A832.
Local opposition remained strong even after changes were made. Residents reiterated issues such as limited pedestrian access, the potential impact on local wildlife, and strain on infrastructure.
Dr David Southall, a Laide resident, described the project as “harmful,” citing road safety due to the busy A832 and the lack of pedestrian routes to the nearby beach.
He also expressed concern about the “possible overflow of human and chemical waste resulting from approximately now 12 additional people at any one time into one small area of this village.”
Dr Southall further criticized an adjacent development by Mr Hull, a house approved in 2021 and currently under construction. He warned it could later become a holiday let, intensifying local disruption.
An amended plan for this house, currently under council review, includes more bedrooms and a plant room, according to the Ross-shire Journal.
Nearby residents Mr and Mrs Bramham said they would have “vehemently objected” had the new layout, which now overlooks their property, been disclosed earlier.
At a recent council meeting, Councillor Liz Kraft requested the glamping application be refused, citing “overdevelopment of the area” and a lack of engagement between the developer and the local community.
“Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of trust lost between the developer and the community,” she said. Councillor Richard Gale supported this view, stating the project would not offer “any contributions to the local economy.”
Nevertheless, the majority of Highland councillors voted in favor of the application. Black Isle councillor Sarah Atkin acknowledged local frustrations but emphasized that planning concerns had largely been addressed.
“The fact that the developer isn’t a particularly pleasant person isn’t a material planning consideration,” she stated. “We are not meant to be involved in the minutia of community spats.”
Committee chair Drew Millar noted the high level of opposition, remarking that he had “seen fewer public objections to large windfarms.”
Still, he joined the majority in approving the pods, along with councillor Jan McEwan, who commented, “Some people just don’t want these things in their backyar, but they’ve got to move on with the times.”
For outdoor hospitality professionals, this case illustrates the importance of transparent community engagement when seeking planning approval, especially in rural or scenic areas where tourism developments may face increased scrutiny.
Clear communication and responsiveness to local concerns can influence outcomes and foster more sustainable relationships with host communities.