The former Desert Island Discs presenter and her partner, Nick Jones, filed proposals to build the short-stay holiday rental on Inchconnachan in 2021 – though the details of the application were only made public the following year.
The couple pledged to transform it into “a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy” when they submitted the plans with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority for a three-bedroom lodge and new boathouse and shelter.
The developers also aim to demolish the ruins of a colonial-style timber bungalow built in the 1920s, creating a natural wet woodland on the site.
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A supporting statement read: “We fully recognise, and respect, the fact the island is a beautiful and sensitive place, well protected for its historic woodlands, habitat and natural beauty.
“We equally see it is well recorded that very little habitat or visitor management has taken place over the past decade or more and as a result the habitat is in a declining poor condition and under growing pressure from an increasing number of visitors and anti-social behaviour.”
Just over three years after the plans were first submitted, they have been approved by the authority – with a number of conditions in place.
One states that the lodge should be solely used for short-term holiday use that does not exceed 90 days in one calendar year and not permanent residential use.
A second condition is the boathouse is used for purposes related to the management of the island and not for overnight accommodation.
And before the development can begin, the finalised Inchconnachan Island Management Plan has to be submitted and approved.
In a decision notice, which is available to view on the park’s planning portal, a case officer said: “The proposed development would result in a small loss of habitat, however, the proposals are considered to have a biodiversity benefit through the naturalisation of the former site and the positive management and habitat enhancement of the island.”
The couple attracted criticism for the suggestion that their plans could see a colony of wallabies, first brought to the 103-acre island after the Second World War, removed from the land.
Woodland Trust Scotland also objected, saying building work would involve cutting down trees.
A petition started by objectors, Save the Wallabies of Loch Lomond, has also gathered more than 98,000 signatures from people protesting against any attempt to cull the animals.
Under the current plans, 35 trees will be cut down, including four individually surveyed trees.