The owners of the Glen Mhor Hotel on the city’s riverside wanted to demolish a bar to incorporate the multi-million pound development as part of the existing Victorian building. They believed the Colin Armstrong Associates-designed development had the potential to generate millions of pounds for the economy.

Planning officials had recommended the application for approval but councillors on the Highland Council’s south planning applications committee cited concerns over inadequate parking provision, the local road network and the building not keeping with local character as reasons to unanimously reject the scheme following a site visit.