The centre, which opened in August 1994 and was once one of Scotland’s top tourism destinations, has had a variety of uses since it was first built, but was put up for let by the park authority in 2021.
The Trust is now seeking permission to change its current use to include shops (Class 1A) and food and drink (Class 3) in a bid to take on Luss Visitor Centre since park bosses made it clear they were open to a community asset transfer in 2023.The organisation commented: “This is a large building in a prominent position in the centre of Luss. It has lain unoccupied for many years. Many residents have opinions on what the building should or should not be used for.
“The current community trust members have been working hard to inform the community of this opportunity, amend the trust constitution so it is compatible with an asset transfer proposal, and seek professional advice to ensure that the trust is in a position to take a valid asset transfer request forward.”
The report added: “This statement supports a planning application for use of Visitor Centre for Class 1A (Shops) or Class 3 (Food and drink) use at Luss Visitor Centre.
“The application proposes the re-use of a former visitor centre that has previously accommodated tourist, retail and food and drink uses, and as the proposal is for Class 1A (Shops) or Class 3 (Food and drink) use, this aligns with the original use and those other use types that have taken place on the site.
“Re-use of the building for these similar purposes will contribute to the National Park being a sustainable place by virtue of reusing a vacant property, which removes any need for an undeveloped site to be built on to provide the intended facility, and which in turn minimises waste.
“The former visitor centre has been marketed for sale by the owner, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and that serves to demonstrate that the Park Authority have determined there to be a lack of demand and lack of an open market buyer for the facility based on the currently allowable uses.
“When all factors are balanced, the weight is strongly in favour of planning permission being granted.”
For more information and to view the application, visit the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs planning application portal at eplanning.lochlomond-trossachs.org and search 2026/0176/DET.
Great news and congratulations to Cllr Fiona Higgins and her legal team from PBW Law who have just succeeded in their Judicial Review heard two weeks ago in the Court of Session.
For those not aware of the case the Higgins petition raised huge issues of jurisprudence and also the place of the Scottish Court of Session within Scotland.
Robin McAlpine published an article on the matter just before the case called. It gives a good overview of the issues involved. Here is the link –
https://robinmcalpine.org/fighting-back-against-the-ruling-classs-reign-of-terror/
This as many readers will realise this is a great result against bad governance in Scotland that sought to chill and silence free speech. of elected representatives. John Swinney et al will have to reflect on this – and of the fact that there may be more to come.