PLANS have been unveiled for six small workshop units in Luss which would enable local artists to sell their wares.

Local land owner Luss Estates has submitted proposals to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority for a site to the north of the village’s primary school.

It is also hoped that the potential creation of the retail units could lead to up to a dozen new jobs being created in the village, where a fish smoking plant is currently under construction.

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Eleven new posts are set to be created once the plant is up and running, and a design and access statement by Luss Estates says that the land owner hopes to add to the employment opportunities in the village by creating the new workshops.

The company says in its design statement: “Luss is visited by 400,000 people a year as a scenic village on the banks of Loch Lomond.

“This visitation is seasonal.

“The village has a small number of shops, restaurants and hotels, but little business to sustain it economically, so it relies heavily on tourism.

“The Luss Estate is striving to create employment, and it is clear, following a number of meetings with the local planning department to discuss a planning strategy for the village, that the desire is reciprocated, indeed encouraged.

“This application is for six small workshops that also serve as shops for local artists and artisans to create their goods and sell them to visitors as well as to the wider world at large.

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“The units are designed to allow two or three to be knocked together to give flexibility.

“At the rear is parking for six small vans/cars, and there is also rubbish storage.”

The design statement in support of the application also says that the car parking area for the workshops will be self-draining and that a retaining wall will be formed.

The roof of the proposed workshop building is planned to be formed of black corrugated metal – the same material which already provides cover for the rear buildings at the nearby Loch Lomond Arms Hotel.

The statement adds: “As few trees as is necessary would be felled to retain the thick cover between the units at the front of the site and the main road behind.

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“The building is set back to give plenty of space for visitors to check the shop window.

“It is hoped that this development will increase employment by six to 12 people.

“Generally the building will be economical to construct, with a timber kit system and blockwork with painted or coloured render to the outside.”

A decision is expected from the park authority by late October.