A large leisure development on a caravan site near Shawhead has been granted planning permission.
The building at Barnsoul Caravan Park will be developed in three phases and feature a restaurant, swimming pool and shop.
There are long term plans for more than 250 eco-friendly cabins on the site which currently has permission for 55 touring caravan pitches and 46 static ones.
Planning committee members this week granted permission for the main building – which will replace an old facilities block already removed.
While preparing their report on the application, council officers discovered “unauthorised alterations” had taken place to the park’s access.
A directive was issued that a retrospective application needs to be made to regulate the work.
Concern had also been raised by Irongray Community Council about the negative impact on the road network of the new development.
The meeting was told that as the application was only for the replacement of an existing building, it was deemed the levels of access and vehicle movements were acceptable.
But Councillor Iain Howie said: “I think there’s a genuine road hazard as it stands and approving this will increase business and increase risk to pedestrians and cyclists.”
However, chairman Jim Dempster said this was “speculative” and councillors unanimously granted permission to the plans.
It will be run by Landal GreenParks, which has more than 80 sites across Europe. Belvedere Leisure Resorts is also involved in plans for more than 400 lodges at Barncrosh near Ringford.
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