PLANS have been unveiled to regenerate a neglected Loch Lomond island and create a “world class place” for visitors to enjoy its “unique natural beauty”.

Inchconnachan, meaning ‘the Colquhoun’s island’, was sold in March last year, having been put on the market for offers over £500,000.

New owners Nick and Kirsty Jones, who run Blantyre-based construction and development firm Sunax Ltd, hope to restore the island’s habitat and reverse years of environmental decline, with ambitious plans for a “world class visitor experience”.

A new boathouse will be used as warden’s accommodation and other outbuildings will be created to replace the existing derelict lodge, boat shelter and outbuildings.

Supporting information submitted to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority states: “Nick has a global hotel and hospitality company and Kirsty grew up in Stirlingshire.

“Environmentally, the island is in a very poor condition and without a substantial and curated strategy it will continue to suffer. We believe, as a collective, we can grasp the opportunity to reverse this decline.

“With the island of Inchconnachan, Nick and Kirsty’s goal is to create a world class place for everybody to enjoy its unique natural beauty.”

The applicants say they are “committed to immediate action and long-term environmental management” of the island and will eradicate invasive species, remove exotic species and promote natural regeneration.

Noting problems with anti-social behaviour both on the island and on the water, particularly during the summer months, a design and access statement adds: “We believe this is [a] thoughtful and world class proposal and there are comprehensive planning, social, economic and environmental reasons for the National Park Authority to support the development.”

Wallabies were introduced to the island by its then owner, Lady Colquhoun, in the 1940s, though the current status of the colony – one of the few places outside Australia with a viable population of the animals – is not known.

The only reference to the island’s wallabies in the planning application’s supporting statement is contained in a brief reference to the applicants’ Island Management Plan, which, the document says, “offers significant benefits including...control of deer and wallaby to maximise natural regeneration”.