Highland hotel & retail ‘village’ planned for Tomatin
March 21 2018
Tomatin Trading Company are seeking to rekindle plans first granted by Highland Council in 2007 for the brownfield site but could finally open by autumn 2019 should planning be approved.
William Frame, managing director of Tomatin Trading Company, said: “I first bought the site in 2005 and believe this is now the right time to take forward our plans with the commitment of Transport Scotland to improve accessibility to the Highlands. The dualling of the A9 will include the stretch in close proximity to the site of the proposed development and the Highlands are an increasingly popular tourist destination.”
Architect Mark Fresson of Norr, added: “Our vision for the site is to create a cluster of memorable buildings appropriate to its spectacular Highland setting. The development will complement the surrounding landscape using a mix of traditional materials such as stone, timber and slate echoing its historic past while looking to the future”.
The destination aims to serve as a gateway for popular attractions such as the Cairngorms National Park, North Coast 500 and Loch Ness.
A broad range of complementary attractions will entice passers by to pull over
The development seeks to employ a Highland vernacular
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11 Comments
#1 Posted by Late Capitalist Landscape Trust on 21 Mar 2018 at 11:19 AM
Is Mark Fresson being sarcastic here?
#2 Posted by Rotten Tomatin's on 21 Mar 2018 at 12:34 PM
Forgotten it already Mr Fresson........I do remember it being diabolically twee though.
#3 Posted by FHM on 21 Mar 2018 at 12:47 PM
Honestly, this is woeful. One only has to look at how the Scandinavians do successful interventions on key tourist routes to take some form of contemporary inspiration. The "Architects", and I use the term lightly, should be utterly embarrassed at this terrible excuse of a "design" in 2018.
#4 Posted by Auntie Nairn on 21 Mar 2018 at 13:12 PM
Second rate House of Bruar
#5 Posted by Cadmonkey on 21 Mar 2018 at 13:21 PM
It is trying desperately not to look like a suburban outlet shopping development. Actually it isn't trying at all and these low angle sketch up images fail to underplay the dominant retail parade parking in front.
Not the greates, but at least Bruar tries to separate cars and people...a bit. This is new build - so no excuse not to place make.
Even the flag thinks its mince.
Not the greates, but at least Bruar tries to separate cars and people...a bit. This is new build - so no excuse not to place make.
Even the flag thinks its mince.
#6 Posted by TepidMouse on 21 Mar 2018 at 13:41 PM
What is the point in this? When travelling north, it is only another 14 miles until you reach Inverness. Anyone on a weary journey north will just keep going to reach the city. The Little Chef that used to be on the site closed, partly as a result of its proximity to Inverness.
#7 Posted by Jo on 21 Mar 2018 at 14:06 PM
@#5 - agreed. There is nothing of interest in Tomatin that would justify such a large scale development like this. Its not in the Cairngorm National Park, its only a short distance from Inverness & Loch Ness / Highlands / Culloden etc. There is House of Bruar to the south, Brodie Country Fare to the east, both established names which cater to the same market. Dont understand the need for such a bland development
#8 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 21 Mar 2018 at 19:52 PM
Obviously targeting the Coffin Coaches market!
#9 Posted by Sven on 23 Mar 2018 at 19:41 PM
I will go against the grain and say that this is OK. The hotel design reflects the local vernacular with a modern twist and as such is good if the finish is high spec.
The, and I am guessing restaurant, ancillary buildings are a tad out of town Whitbread specials of Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn. I can think of so many service stations with this layout - Stirling Services, Perth Broxburn (which at least has a McDonald's to alleviate the dullness of the site).
The bigger problem, is as 5 and 7 have mentioned, is demand. Tomatin is too close to Inverness to bother stopping at. This at Dalwhinnie or Kingussie is a more commercially viable concept.
The, and I am guessing restaurant, ancillary buildings are a tad out of town Whitbread specials of Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn. I can think of so many service stations with this layout - Stirling Services, Perth Broxburn (which at least has a McDonald's to alleviate the dullness of the site).
The bigger problem, is as 5 and 7 have mentioned, is demand. Tomatin is too close to Inverness to bother stopping at. This at Dalwhinnie or Kingussie is a more commercially viable concept.
#10 Posted by Simon on 24 Mar 2018 at 00:13 AM
I personally think this will do well. The people of Inverness will be delighted to have their own local mini Bruar and I can see it becoming a go to destination for coffee, meals, shopping etc. When you see how popular Brodie and Buar are, neither of which are a great distance from large towns, if this is done well it has every potential to be hugely successful.
#11 Posted by Trombe Wall on 26 Mar 2018 at 08:42 AM
Think i'll stick to the Newtonmore Grill.
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