Two Deeside hotels have had their expansion plans approved.
The Boat Inn at Aboyne will now turn a house adjacent to its car park into a separate eight-bedroomed annex for the busy hotel.
The Fife Arms in Braemar will meanwhile convert Mayfield, a disused bed and breakfast into staff accommodation for up to 15 people.
Despite neighbours objections and concerns about potential noise, the existing house behind the Boat Inn will now be converted into another eight bedrooms on condition that screening is erected between the adjoining properties.
At the Marr Area Committee planning officer Neil Mair said that the lane giving access between the property and the main building would be fenced and locked gates would also be installed as another condition, adding: “The owner has made every effort to prevent it becoming a thoroughfare for customers walking through and taking a short cut to the lane at the rear of the property.”
Aboyne councillor Peter Argyle commended the expansion as it help the “struggling” hospitality and tourism sector in Deeside.
Councillors also approved the Fife Arms plans for the old B&B on Chapel Brae.
Hotel chef Robert Cameron told the committee the building would be used for year-round staff accommodation for up to 15 people, adding: “It will be vital, especially at the height of the season, to be able to house staff in the village.”
The 46-bedroomed hotel is currently undergoing an extensive two-year refurbishment and is due to open this summer.
Braemar Community Council objected to the plans on the grounds of that it would have a “detrimental impact” on neighbours.
But Mr Cameron said he hoped those staff living in the village would “fit in with the community”, adding: “The hotel would carry out weekly inspections and ensure that noise levels were not excessive.”
The hotel is also building new staff accommodation within the main hotel refurbishment project.