An interior designer to the royals is facing a backlash over plans to create a wedding venue in the grounds of Deeside mansion.
Mikhail Pietranek, described as a “luxury interior design specialist”, runs his business from Monaltrie House in Ballater.
He has worked with notable clients such as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, and was responsible for overseeing the £1million revamp of Birkhall House in the grounds of Balmoral.
Monaltrie House, a B-listed building which he bought in 2002, is also used as a self-catering holiday home and regularly hosts members of the Metropolitan Police when they are looking after the Queen at Balmoral Castle.
Mr Pietranek recently formed plans to build a wedding venue in the ancient grounds, which is nestled among woodland.
But he has now withdrawn plans to get more details for the council, after unhappy locals living on the nearby Morven Way called for the project to be rejected.
Resident Gordon Chaplin raised concerns the “inappropriate” development would “commercialise a historic B-listed building and its environs”.
In his letter of objection, he said: “There are existing wedding venues within the village. This development would represent a direct challenge in a limited market.”
Robin and Helen Phillips, who moved to their property on the street from Essex last September, wrote: “Our concerns are that developing such a business on the edge of a quiet residential area will most likely cause periods of undesirable noise and light pollution.
“We believe that such a development would cause a notable loss of quality of life for the surrounding residential area.”
Mr Pietranek, whose clients also include Buckingham Palace, Harrods and Ralph Lauren, withdrew his plans this week.
But last night he said his dream was still alive and the details were merely being tweaked.
He said:”The council wanted more information, and for ease we withdrew the application to get all things organised.
“We still plan to build the wedding venue – it’s an ideal place for a venue.
“Hotels, coffee, shops, and businesses in Ballater will all benefit, Royal Deeside is a very popular place for tourists to choose a wedding.
“We have planned weekend packages that would help people visiting to explore rest of the region.
“We have a lot of weddings here in temporary marquees already, my son has his on July 4. We had to work the date around the Queen, as her staff are staying in the house at the end of that month.”
THE HISTORY
Monaltrie House is privately owned by the Scottish designer Mikhail Pietranek but also trades as a self-catering holiday let.
The impressive mansion, also known as Ballater House or Tullich Lodge, stands at the foot of Craigendarroch and is surrounded by ancient woodland.
In Thom’s History of Aberdeen there is a record of Farquarson of Monaltrie heading an army in 1745 against the Hanovarian, as he called King George.
It reads: “Monaltrie was joined by Captains Stuart and Gordon, and marched to Inverury to combat the clans commanded by M’Leod of M’Leod, and Munroe of Culcairn. The fight began December 23rd at 6pm, by the light of the moon.
“The contest was severe, but the Farquharsons were victorious. Gordon of Prony and Stuart of Auquhoile distinguished themselves on the field. In Monaltrie’s regiment there were three hundred of the name of Farquharson.”
The house and lands then fell into the hands of the Invercauld family, to whom the late proprietor, William Farquharson, left it subject to his widow’s life-rent.
The property was bought by Mr Pietranek in 2002, but he spends most of his time in London.