An Aberdeenshire businessman has finally been given the green light to build a new mansion at the foot of Lochnagar, near Balmoral Castle.

Alastair Storey bought the 11,500-acre estate for £23m with plans to transform it into an "adventure tourism" destination.

He'd also lodged plans to revamp a crumbling building into a mansion for visiting friends and family.

After first withdrawing plans last summer following a spate of complaints, Mr Storey lodged fresh ones in December.

Criticism was still forthcoming, with one opponent even claiming the mansion would ruin the Queen's "favourite view".

But the plans have - at long last - been given the go ahead as council officials note the businessman is "investing significantly" in upgrading many of the 37 buildings across his estate.

Read the full story in today's Press and Journal.

More like this…

View all