FAQs – Lomond Banks

On this page you can find answers to many of the questions that have been asked about our plans for Lomond Banks. We will update this information on a regular basis, using factual information from our Masterplan and from the many independent reports we have commissioned to support our planning application.

Why are you making a further submission, what is different this time around?
We have spent the last two year listening to the local community and key stakeholder to understand the importance of Loch Lomond to both residents and visitors to the area, as well as the local population, who value the area as an iconic setting within the country. Following on from our extensive consultation work, our plans have been significantly shaped and amendments made to support questions raised around scale of development and the environment, including biodiversity, ecology and traffic and parking. • Review the size of the proposed buildings at the pierhead area • Remove the lodges from the ancient woodland of Drumkinnon Wood • Rework the proposals within and around Woodbank House, including proposals to renovate and refurbish the Grade A listed building and its attendant outbuildings and complete removal of the proposed Area 10 (staff area and services) • Review the proposals adjacent to the boat clubs so as to preserve access • A minimum 12metre wide landscape buffer will continue to be incorporated around Drumkinnon Gate Estate. • Access to all key destinations and routes through the site are to be maintained during the construction phase. Any impacts on walking/cycle routes during the construction phase will be short term and localised diversions will be put in place.

Why are you making a further submission, what is different this time around?

We have spent the last two year listening to the local community and key stakeholder to understand the importance of Loch Lomond to both residents and visitors to the area, as well as the local population, who value the area as an iconic setting within the country.
Following on from our extensive consultation work, our plans have been significantly shaped and amendments made to support questions raised around scale of development and the environment, including biodiversity, ecology and traffic and parking.
•             Review the size of the proposed buildings at the pierhead area
•             Remove the lodges from the ancient woodland of Drumkinnon Wood
•             Rework the proposals within and around Woodbank House, including proposals to renovate and refurbish the Grade A listed building and its attendant outbuildings and complete removal of the proposed Area 10 (staff area and services)
•             Review the proposals adjacent to the boat clubs so as to preserve access
•             A minimum 12metre wide landscape buffer will continue to be incorporated around Drumkinnon Gate Estate.
•             Access to all key destinations and routes through the site are to be maintained during the construction phase. Any impacts on walking/cycle routes during the construction phase will be short term and localised diversions will be put in place.

2. Will there be theme park rides onsite?
No. The vision for Lomond Banks is to create a world-class, sustainable family holiday village, not a theme park. We are taking inspiration from Center Parcs and other adventure parks in Scotland, such as Landmark. Our proposals include an external activity area including tree top walk, events and performance areas, children’s play areas, picnic and play areas

3. What are your plans for Woodbank House?
We are committed to the conservation and redevelopment of Woodbank House and other listed structures within the site. These proposals will be subject to future application for planning and listed building consent. Our vision will be to restore the derelict outbuildings into high standard self-catered holiday apartments.

4, How many jobs will be created when you are up and running?
The proposal is expected to see an investment of approximately £40 million. We anticipate the day to day running of the new resort will bring approximately 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs to the area. There will also be many local jobs and apprenticeship opportunities created during the early construction phase of the project.

5. What kind of jobs will there be when you are fully open?
There will be jobs across all levels, from management through to shop floor. Example of jobs could be anything from accounts staff, operational staff, catering staff, service staff, leisure staff, grounds staff and many more.
Will there be zero-hour contracts? No, there are no zero-hour employment contracts. This is confirmed in our Lomond Promise.
What will the basic rate of pay be? We have agreed to sign up to pay the Scottish Living wage. Our preferred main contractors will also be Scottish Living Wage accredited. Please see our Lomond Promise for more information on our commitments around this
What are your plans to use local firms? Our vision is to become a complementing and integral part of the local business community developing and building a working partnership for the benefit of all. Our Lomond Promise outlines our key commitments in this area.

6. Will there be a habitat biodiversity plan to protect the area?
Our proposals and respected conservation credentials will improve biodiversity through the creation of new habitat and strengthening existing habitat. A woodland development management plan will be put in place to safeguard and properly manage the existing woodland and wherever possible improved upon, in order to promote biodiversity and provide a habitat for wildlife. Lomond Banks had previously undertaken a number of wildlife surveys as part of these commitments, which at the time indicated: • Red Squirrels, Badgers and Pine Marten While there are some signs of red squirrel and pine martin in the wider landscape, there was no evidence of badger, red squirrel or pine marten recorded within the site boundary during the independent survey. These surveys were completed again in 2021. While the woodland and grassland present on the site offers suitable habitat for pine marten and badgers, the existing volume of visitors, dog walkers and general human presence in the locale has reduced the site’s suitability for these animals. • Otter and Water Vole Two otter and water vole surveys were conducted along the banks of all watercourses within the site boundary, plus a buffer of approximately 250m downstream and upstream. No signs of otter were identified and no evidence or suitable habitat was identified for water vole within the site boundary during the surveys. The 2021 surveys examined the site again for the presence of these species. • Bats As noted within the Bat Survey Report Preliminary Roost Assessment from 2017, the majority of trees on site were observed to be semi-mature and in good condition with few features suitable to support roosting bats. They were therefore assessed as having negligible bat roost suitability. Bat roost potential surveys of trees and structures were undertaken again in 2021. With our renowned conservation background, we are committed to improving the biodiversity of the area and the independent survey results found that increasing, enhancing and managing water quality and the connectivity of appropriate vegetation along watercourses could help to support future habitats within the site boundary.

6. Will there be a habitat biodiversity plan to protect the area?

Our proposals and respected conservation credentials will improve biodiversity through the creation of new habitat and strengthening existing habitat. A woodland development management plan will be put in place to safeguard and properly manage the existing woodland and wherever possible improved upon, in order to promote biodiversity and provide a habitat for wildlife. Lomond Banks had previously undertaken a number of wildlife surveys as part of these commitments, which at the time indicated:

• Red Squirrels, Badgers and Pine Marten
While there are some signs of red squirrel and pine martin in the wider landscape, there was no evidence of badger, red squirrel or pine marten recorded within the site boundary during the independent survey. These surveys were completed again in 2021.
While the woodland and grassland present on the site offers suitable habitat for pine marten and badgers, the existing volume of visitors, dog walkers and general human presence in the locale has reduced the site’s suitability for these animals.

• Otter and Water Vole
Two otter and water vole surveys were conducted along the banks of all watercourses within the site boundary, plus a buffer of approximately 250m downstream and upstream. No signs of otter were identified and no evidence or suitable habitat was identified for water vole within the site boundary during the surveys. The 2021 surveys examined the site again for the presence of these species.

• Bats
As noted within the Bat Survey Report Preliminary Roost Assessment from 2017, the majority of trees on site were observed to be semi-mature and in good condition with few features suitable to support roosting bats. They were therefore assessed as having negligible bat roost suitability. Bat roost potential surveys of trees and structures were undertaken again in 2021.
With our renowned conservation background, we are committed to improving the biodiversity of the area and the independent survey results found that increasing, enhancing and managing water quality and the connectivity of appropriate vegetation along watercourses could help to support future habitats within the site boundary.

7. How many trees will be lost as a result of the project?
Attractive, sustainable woodlands are key to the overall character of the development, so retention of mature trees and their setting is essential. Our proposals will utilise existing spaces or spaces created by the removal of invasive species, whilst ensuring all specimen trees are retained as far as possible. However, due to the nature of the development there may be some loss of woodland. A programme of compensatory planting may also be required as a result. At this outline stage of the Planning Permission in Principal application process, all designs are conceptual but are being progressed with the intention of avoiding negative impact on trees and woodland. New woodland areas are being considered as part of the development in the Woodbank and Riverside areas. The proposed compensatory woodland planting strategy could see more trees being planted than those being lost as a result of the proposed development, creating biodiversity gain.

7. How many trees will be lost as a result of the project?

Attractive, sustainable woodlands are key to the overall character of the development, so retention of mature trees and their setting is essential.
Our proposals will utilise existing spaces or spaces created by the removal of invasive species, whilst ensuring all specimen trees are retained as far as possible. However, due to the nature of the development there may be some loss of woodland. A programme of compensatory planting may also be required as a result. At this outline stage of the Planning Permission in Principal application process, all designs are conceptual but are being progressed with the intention of avoiding negative impact on trees and woodland.
New woodland areas are being considered as part of the development in the Woodbank and Riverside areas. The proposed compensatory woodland planting strategy could see more trees being planted than those being lost as a result of the proposed development, creating biodiversity gain.

8. What mitigation plans are in place for traffic and parking?
With sustainability at the heart of the proposed development, all visitors will be encouraged to leave their car behind and use sustainable means of travel. Traffic arriving at Lomond Banks will be managed to ensure the proposed parking areas are utilised effectively and pedestrian movement is incentivised and promoted throughout the site especially between Lomond Shores into Balloch. Through the ‘Lomond Promise’, the developer will put a strong focus on traffic and transport plans over the coming years, joining forces with WDC and LLTNPA to support a sustainable travel plan, and actively encourage other means of transport. Further summer traffic analysis demonstrates there will be a minimal increase of cars as a result of the proposed development. Day visitors to Lomond Banks will be encouraged to travel on public transport to the resort and long-stay visitors will be encouraged to park up once and explore the area by active travel and public transport. The recent summer traffic assessment indicates that traffic impact will be low. Traffic statistics show that there will be a small and acceptable increase in traffic numbers at key junctions in the vicinity of the proposal at peak time periods. The statistics show that the existing junctions will continue to operate well within their capacity when the proposed development would be in operation. There will be no set arrival and departure times to avoid any ‘peak moments’ of traffic build up, with accommodation guests booking in advance will be offered incentives to travel outwith peak times. Notwithstanding this, an agreement has been reached between Lomond Banks and Transport Scotland in the form of a Section 48 agreement, to contribute towards and help prioritise planned improvements by Transport Scotland which is already looking to improve the efficiency of Stoneymollan Roundabout. A further agreement confirming in principle to support West Dunbartonshire Council with ongoing issues at the McDonald’s roundabout, should the development plans progress

8. What mitigation plans are in place for traffic and parking?

With sustainability at the heart of the proposed development, all visitors will be encouraged to leave their car behind and use sustainable means of travel.
Traffic arriving at Lomond Banks will be managed to ensure the proposed parking areas are utilised effectively and pedestrian movement is incentivised and promoted throughout the site especially between Lomond Shores into Balloch.
Through the ‘Lomond Promise’, the developer will put a strong focus on traffic and transport plans over the coming years, joining forces with WDC and LLTNPA to support a sustainable travel plan, and actively encourage other means of transport.
Further summer traffic analysis demonstrates there will be a minimal increase of cars as a result of the proposed development. Day visitors to Lomond Banks will be encouraged to travel on public transport to the resort and long-stay visitors will be encouraged to park up once and explore the area by active travel and public transport.
The recent summer traffic assessment indicates that traffic impact will be low. Traffic statistics show that there will be a small and acceptable increase in traffic numbers at key junctions in the vicinity of the proposal at peak time periods.
The statistics show that the existing junctions will continue to operate well within their capacity when the proposed development would be in operation.
There will be no set arrival and departure times to avoid any ‘peak moments’ of traffic build up, with accommodation guests booking in advance will be offered incentives to travel outwith peak times.
Notwithstanding this, an agreement has been reached between Lomond Banks and Transport Scotland in the form of a Section 48 agreement, to contribute towards and help prioritise planned improvements by Transport Scotland which is already looking to improve the efficiency of Stoneymollan Roundabout. A further agreement confirming in principle to support West Dunbartonshire Council with ongoing issues at the McDonald’s roundabout, should the development plans progress

9. How will you ensure that scenic viewpoints are protected in the development?
Balloch Village and its surroundings are important elements of the landscape. They present an urban landform that whilst valuable, has little of the rugged and wild qualities that can be experienced elsewhere in the National Park. The landscape setting of the proposed area also includes more recent developments such as Drumkinnon Gate housing estate, the retail shopping mall at Loch Lomond Shores and the Queen of the Loch Hotel, which were considered as part of the Landscape and Visual Impact assessment surveys.

9. How will you ensure that scenic viewpoints are protected in the development?

Balloch Village and its surroundings are important elements of the landscape. They present an urban landform that whilst valuable, has little of the rugged and wild qualities that can be experienced elsewhere in the National Park. The landscape setting of the proposed area also includes more recent developments such as Drumkinnon Gate housing estate, the retail shopping mall at Loch Lomond Shores and the Queen of the Loch Hotel, which were considered as part of the Landscape and Visual Impact assessment surveys.

10. Will I still be able to access the site?
Absolutely. Under our proposals, the public will have the freedom to continue to walk through the site including the beach area at Drumkinnon Bay.