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 as it develops and from the many independent reports we have commissioned to support our planning application.
We are committed to working with the community to understand the importance of Loch Lomond to both local 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 feedback we received during the 2019 planning process and further community consultation, our proposals will look to include the following:
- Review the size of the proposed buildings at the pierhead area
- Remove the lodges from 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.
- Review the proposals adjacent to the boat clubs so as to preserve access
- A minimum 12 metre 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.
We look forward to continuing to engage with the community as our plans progress.
No. The vision for Lomond Banks is to create a world-class 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.
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.
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
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.
No, there are no zero-hour employment contracts.
We have agreed to sign up to pay the Scottish Living wage.
Our preferred main contractor will also be Scottish Living Wage accredited.
We are currently working with and looking to engage a construction company, based in West Central Scotland, who is a trusted construction partner with a strong track record and has excellent working relationships with Scotland’s construction supply chain. As our plans progress, there will be other supply chain opportunities available, and we are committed to using local firms wherever possible.
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 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 are being completed again in 2021 ahead of the new planning application.
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. Again the 2021 surveys will examine the site 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 within the site are being undertaken 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.
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.
Visitors will be encouraged to leave their car behind and use sustainable means of travel including the Scotrail service to Balloch. Arriving traffic will be managed to ensure the full potential of parking areas is utilised and pedestrian movement is incentivised and promoted throughout the site especially between Lomond Shores into Balloch. Proposals for traffic management will be developed in consultation with Transport Scotland and West Dunbartonshire Council.
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 we will consider as part of the forthcoming Landscape and Visual Impact assessment surveys.
Absolutely. Under our proposals, the public will have the freedom to continue to walk through the site including the beach area at Drumkinnon Bay.