PLANS have been submitted to revive a Luss museum which has been closed for over two years.

An application has been lodged by Luss Estates for the premises at Shore Cottage, which housed the Clan Colquhoun Museum until May 2016.

The proposals are a renewal of plans which were approved by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority nearly three years ago.

Luss Estates claim in a planning and access statement that the new museum would be better protected from potential flooding issues.

The document says: “Shore Cottage is one of the oldest propefties within the Outstanding Conservation Area of Luss. It sits in sizeable garden ground, which is on two levels, to the north of Luss Church.

“Its use as a dwelling ceased over six years ago and alternative uses have been tried including a shop and a museum.

“Latterly it has been operated very successfully by the Clan Colquhoun as a museum, albeit always under the threat of water damage during the winter months.

“On the strength of this success it is therefore the wish of Luss Estates Company to regain planning permission and listed building consent for the construction of a new museum that will be less susceptible to the weather and therefore open to the public as a tourist facility all year round.

“We are comfortable that the principle and design of the new building is sound in terms of solar gain, wind protection, security over the access etc.

“The new museum will also be significantly better than the existing facility, and indeed some of the existing properties in the locality in terms of thermal efficiency, accessibility, longevity and flexibility of use for all generations.”

The report also states that visitor numbers will be positive but manageable, and will be controlled at all times.

It adds: “It is believed the proposal continues to offer a justifiable means of relocating the existing Clan Museum into a better and flood-free premises thereby allowing it to operate all year round.

“Its success to date as a seasonal tourist facility can be extended to create an all-season indoor facility that is not weather dependent. It will also assure continuous rather than seasonal employment.

“Furthermore, by adopting the same scale and design of building as previously approved it is believed the resultant impact upon the streetscene will remain appropriate.

“It is therefore believed that Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority should once again find in favour of the proposal and ultimately lend their support once again to the project.”

A decision on the proposals is expected by early November.