And finally… Banished
Reading time: 3 minutes
A Highland councillor has issued a plea to people obsessed with notorious occultist Aleister Crowley not to spoil the restoration of his former house after the project was given the green light.
About this development:
- Authority:Highland
- Type:Commercial
- Applications:
Boleskine House
Two applications relating to Boleskine House, overlooking Loch Ness, were yesterday approved by members of Highland Council’s south planning applications committee.
Crowley was said to have performed occultist rituals at the property when he lived there between 1899 and 1913.
People fascinated by his beliefs have caused “difficulties” for other owners of the home and the local community by gathering uninvited at the house.
Musician Jimmy Page, of the band Led Zeppelin, bought Boleskine House in the 1970s because of the Crowley connection, before later selling it.
Local councillor Margaret Davidson said there were “good quality” plans for the future of the site, and she appealed to people with an interest in Crowley and the supernatural not to spoil them.
She said: “Over the years it has been a place people have visited and become obsessed with the area.
“That has caused its own difficulties for people in Foyers and Inverfarigaig, the nearest villages, and I would wish that to stop for them.”
The first application, for planning permission, included the reinstatement and alterations to the fire damaged house; siting of ten holiday twin-units, reception, store, car parking; and installation of sewage treatment plant by the Boleskine House Foundation SCIO.
Members agreed the recommendation to grant planning permission as set out in the council officers’ reports; and also agreed to additional recommendations raised by council leader and local ward member Cllr Davidson regarding roads works and that work could be done before the construction takes place.
The additional recommendations approved were:
- An additional archaeological condition;
- Amendments to the conditions relating to road safety to ensure these works are undertaken prior to construction work starting (Conditions 6, 12 and 14 - subject to Transport Planning’s confirmation);
- Condition 6 to be amended to refer to 160 metres rather than 120 metres; and
- Local Members to be consulted on the conditions relating to planting plans, the potential replanting plan and the traffic management plan.
Councillors also approved the application for reinstatement of the fire-damaged building, with some alterations; not including full internal fit-out and agreed the recommendation to grant listed building consent subject to conditions as detailed by council planning officers to safeguard the character and qualities of the listed building.
Committee chair, Councillor Jimmy Gray, said: “Members have considered the information that is material to planning applications in consideration of these applications. Full cognisance was taken from officers’ advice to set aside matters associated with previous ownership of the property which are not material in planning matters.”
Share this article:
Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss articles like this one:
SUBSCRIBE
