We’re pleased to have received planning approval for the Operations Village at Newhall.

The development will provide a permanent, purpose-built base for the people and services that keep Taymouth Castle Estate running day to day, bringing a number of important back-of-house functions together in one location.

The new facilities will include estate management, staff facilities, catering and food preparation, laundry, storage and other essential operations. They will be located at Newhall, in the eastern part of the wider Estate.

Currently, a number of these services operate from temporary facilities close to Taymouth Castle, which have time-limited planning consent until 2029. Moving them to Newhall will give these operations a long-term home, away from the historic heart of the Estate.

Finding the right location for these facilities has been an important part of the planning process. Several sites across the Estate were considered, taking account of the historic landscape, flood risk, existing uses and operational requirements, before Newhall was identified as the most suitable location.

The plans themselves have also evolved since public consultation began in 2023. Feedback helped shape the proposals, including removing the previously proposed biomass plant, while further discussions through the planning process led to changes to the scale and design of the main administration building to help it sit more comfortably within the landscape. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views.

The development will comprise a group of predominantly single-storey buildings, designed as a coherent part of the rural setting. Landscaping is an important part of the plans too, with around 261 new trees, more than 300 metres of hedgerow This includes replacement tree planting at a 3:1 ratio, alongside measures to protect retained trees.

There is still detailed work to take forward following the planning decision, and we’ll continue to keep the local community updated as the plans move forward.