A leisure retreat in the Renfrewshire hills is celebrating after the Scottish Government backed its plan to build ten holiday lodges.
Local councillors didn’t want the tourism boost at the Bowfield Hotel and Country Club above Howwood.
But now it’s full steam ahead after government planners gave full permission for the luxury lodges.
And one condition is literally full of hot air . . . guests won’t be able to go wild in the outdoor hot tubs late at night.
They will have to be out of the water by 9pm after farmers said cows in surrounding fields might get upset.
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Keith Thom, of the National Farmers’ Union lodged an objection, saying: “There will be substantial additional noise which might cause distress to livestock in adjacent fields.”
Another resident said planners did not understand how far noise can travel in the countryside.
Scottish Government Reporter Mike Shiel said a curfew at 9pm for everyone to be out of the tubs was “reasonable”.
Each of the ten lodges will have its own tub and Bowfield said the lodges will be more of a quiet romantic retreat for couples.
The plans had gone to appeal with the Scottish Government after they had been thrown out for a third time.
A spokeswoman for the resort said: “We received planning permission in December 2021 for ten luxury lodges in the grounds of Bowfield Hotel & Country Club.
“A condition of the agreement is that the hot tubs outside each lodge will not be in use after 9pm, which we believe is a fairly standard condition, and one which we will of course enforce and communicate clearly to guests.”
The go ahead is a major coup for Bowfield owner Manorview Group, which has spent £4 million bringing the resort up to luxury standards, including a new pool.
Last year Renfrewshire councillors voted against the plan by 11 votes to 3.
Village councillor Emma Rodden was against it on the grounds of increased road use, sewage, noise and disturbance.
And she told the planning board hearing: “While we can all recognise the benefit of adding to the tourism economy, doing it in this way at this site would create far more issues than it seeks to address.”
Concerns were previously raised by Howwood Community Council about the effect the structures would have on the landscape while the Scottish Government reporter initially deemed the visual impact of the development as “unacceptable” based on its proximity to neighbouring properties.
Last month we revealed Bowfield has turned its bland pool into a Scandinavian-style spa complete with mood changing LED ceiling.
Manorview – who own the Lynnhurst Hotel in Johnstone among others – bought Bowfield nine years ago.
They upgraded the gym and created the AURA Spa with outdoor hot tub.
Manorview was formed in 2007 and now has 500 employees working across nine venues as well as head office and remote facilities teams.
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