Enforcement action over 'unauthorised' development in Rob Roy village

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

It said its officers have, with the support of Police Scotland, issued an enforcement notice in respect of the "unauthorised placement of a static caravan and associated access works " in the picturesque village of Balquhidder, located 10 miles north-west of Callander.
LLTTNPA said the notice requires "their removal as the owner has failed to heed all previous requests to do so".
It added: "Following public warnings and enforcement action by the park authority on such unlawful activity on nearby land in 2022, the situation has unfortunately escalated.
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"In the Balquhidder area alone, land previously under single ownership has now been subdivided into approximately 45 plots.
"These small plots, priced attractively from £7,000, are drawing buyers from across the UK and overseas who appear unaware of the significant planning constraints on what is environmentally sensitive land."
Both a glen and village, Balquhidder lies at the head of Loch Voil and has the remains of a number of pre-historic sites including a stone circle, the Puidrac Stone, and a Neolithic burial chamber cairn to the east.
It has many important associations with the archetypal Scottish hero immortalised by Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy MacGregor, who is buried at Balquhidder. The village attracts many visitors who come to see Rob Roy's grave in Balquhidder Kirkyard. Rob Roy lived and died in the village.
After his principal creditor, James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose seized his lands, Rob Roy waged a private blood feud against the duke until 1722, when he was forced to surrender. Later imprisoned, he was finally pardoned in 1727. He died in his house at Inverlochlarig Beg, Balquhidder, on December 28, 1734.
Unauthorised developments in Balquidder (Image: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority)
Stuart Mearns, Director of Place at LLTTNPA, said: "We are concerned and frustrated by this continuing trend across the National Park of the marketing of small plots of land which are not suitable for development. We strongly urge vigilance from buyers. If a sale notice seems too good to be true, we encourage buyers to seek their own professional advice or from our planning staff before purchasing.
'We are also seeing a trend where some owners realising the land is not suitable for development, then seek to sell the land on. In one case, this has been with the creation of further smaller plots. While we are proactively engaging with new owners and seeing development works removed, in some cases unfortunately there are some that are not heeding our warnings.
"This unauthorised activity raises serious concerns including in respect of pollution, risk to environmental designations and unsafe road access. These plots of land are very unlikely to receive planning permission given they are in typically within the countryside and sited on flood plains on environmentally sensitive or protected landscape and typically have no formal access or infrastructure.
'If those enforcement notices we issue are not complied with, we will not hesitate in utilising our statutory powers, including options that are a last resort such as forcibly removing any structures.'
LLTTNPA said it has also reported an increase in complaints from members of the public, neighbouring landowners and community organisations in the Balquidder, Crainlarich and Gartocharn areas - raising concerns about compliance issues and seeking reassurance about planning processes.
"Unfortunately, there have also been reports of intimidating behaviour towards community members at the Balquidder plots", LLTTNPA added.
LLTTNPA said that, to proactively address the issue, it is working closely with local communities and partner agencies including local councils, Police Scotland and SEPA.
It will also convene a multi-agency meeting this month "to discuss any wider and coordinated steps that public bodies should consider".
"Anyone considering purchasing any land in the National Park with the intention of developing should seek advice from suitably qualified persons or contact the National Park Authority's planning team in the first instance", LLTTNPA noted.