A PLAN to build countryside holiday lodges on green belt land near Loch Thom has been rejected by council officers.

Officials have knocked back the proposed scheme, which would have seen the chalets, a support and administration building, and an access road constructed at the countryside location between Inverkip and Greenock.

Twelve single-storey lodges – each with two to three bedrooms – had been proposed for the site, which comprised of rough grassland that sloped down to the compensation reservoir from Cornalees Farm.

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Nine of the lodges would have arched around existing farm buildings on the site, with the remaining three lodges being located to the north-eastern part of the site.

Greenock Telegraph: Holiday lodges plan for countryside near Inverkip rejected.

A design document submitted alongside the original application from architects Nicolson McShane, on behalf of the farm’s owners, outlined the plans for the site.

It stated: “Our proposal will be modestly scaled and sympathetically positioned in the environment.

“This is a relatively unique part of the [Clyde Murshiel Regional] Park, with the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre and Ardgowan Fishery as neighbours.

“We are currently working with our landscape consultants to achieve a scheme which has a minimal visual impact whilst allowing long-term management of the site.

Greenock Telegraph: Holiday lodges plan for countryside near Inverkip rejected.

It continued: “The proposal will generate economic activity within the park boundaries and will benefit neighbouring businesses and the local economy generally.

“We note from the park's annual report 2019/2020 that particular focus is being placed on the park as a resource to promote physical and mental health, and as a platform for outdoor learning.

“Our proposal will support these activities by allowing participants to experience the park for days rather than hours at a time, enough time to immerse themselves in the environment and thus benefit to a much greater extent.”

But planners have stated that the development ‘would not be compatible’ with the surrounding established countryside and landscape character.

They state: “Although there may be a limited amount of employment generated and economic benefits associated with the proposal, the site is not identified in both the adopted and proposed local development plans as being required for tourism development.”

They further added that the proposal did not accord with aspects of the council’s key local development plan documents, in that it would not respect the landscape setting or character, nor would it protect important views.