Sir Andy Murray's Cromlix hotel gets green light to build woodland guest cabins

Sir Andy Murray's Cromlix hotel in Dunblane has secured planning permission to build nine cabins in its grounds despite opposition from wildlife campaigners.

The five-AA-star property had applied to build extra accommodation for guests in an area of dense woodland around a lake to the north of the hotel.

Murray and his wife Kim bought the hotel in his hometown for almost £2m in 2013. It was run by Inverlochy Castle Management until this year, when the family took a more hands on role in running the business.

The plans will see the construction of four different types of structure, including a one-bedroom treetop cabin; and a two-bedroom cabin with a deck area sat above the water.

A three-bedroom Retreat building will feature a separate two-bedroom guest wing with a covered outdoor fireplace linked by a timber walkway.

The development had been opposed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust over concerns around the impact on breeding birds as well as frogs and toads.

According to The Times, the trust wrote to Stirling council to warn the plans would damage the biodiversity of the area and suggested the cabins be moved to a different area.

"With the people will come the dogs, canoes and paddle boards probably leading to the loss of all the waterbirds," it added.

Despite the opposition, Stirling council granted the hotel planning permission on 17 August.

In a written decision, the council said: "The proposed development has been sensitively designed to reflect its location in the woodland on Cromlix estate and would provide further quality accommodation for visitors to the area.

"The cabins are part of a long-term strategy to invest in Cromlix to ensure its long-term viability which will have a positive effect on the local and wider economy which is to be welcomed."

It added: "Appropriate planning conditions such as a woodland management and a biodiversity plan will ensure that the woodland and its environment are appropriately managed and protected."

Cromlix was built as a country house in the early 1900s and converted to a hotel in 1981.

It relaunched with a new management team in in March following a major 10-week refurbishment overseen by Kim.

A spokesperson for Cromlix hotel declined to comment.