Luxury Perthshire hotel plans 16 new residences

Aberfeldy plan will create new neighbourhood

The expansion of the luxury Dun Aluinn Hotel in Aberfeldy could be cemented by 16 new architect designed homes which would add a new residential community to the Highland Perthshire town.

Formerly a hotel and boarding house for the local school, the Victorian Dun Aluinn Hotel has been transformed into a 5-star destination by John Burke and Susie Whyte, with magazines such as Conde Naste traveller marvelling at the elegant interiors and food.

Now the owners have submitted plans for 16 luxury homes, two of which will be used for Dun Aluin staff and to service the growing hotel business, with individual rooms recently becoming available for bookings for the first time.

Traffic questions

The other 14 high-end timber and stonework properties will introduce an ‘engaging, attractive neighbourhood with broad appeal,’ to a 15-acre site on the western edge of the town.

The plans are of considerable interest as Aberfeldy looks set to grow, with a recognised need for more housing to help service local businesses and families.

GS Brown hopes to build 55 new affordable houses relatively close by, with a combination of outlined developments set to place increased traffic pressure around Duntaylor Avenue; something which will be of concern to local residents.

Likely further questions, when the Community Council meets next Tuesday to consider the new plans, is the size of the Dun Aluinn project given that the site already had consents for 39 houses, this being considerably smaller.

Staff needs

The desire to create a ‘new, high-quality neighbourhood’, with characterful homes designed by Brown and Brown Architects, will see a green corridor preserved in the centre portion of the planned site, to safeguard uninterrupted views.

The sustainable low-impact properties, in varying styles, will be built by local firm, Corryard, also managed by Dun Aluinn owner, John Burke.

A prospective buyers day was held in March with plots available from £185 000.

The houses, mostly single-storey, will be residential and will not be used as second homes.

In terms of the site also providing two properties for hotel use, plans submitted to the council describe the staff accommodation as a ‘proportionate and well considered response to the operational needs of a growing rural hospitality business’.