A £10 MILLION hotel and retail complex at the site of a hostelry once used by Bonnie Prince Charlie is to go ahead.

The scheme, which promises to create more than 100 jobs, will see a 99-bedroom premises, farm shop, restaurant and drive-through bakery constructed at the Tomatin junction.

Currently disused, the site at the side of the A9 was once home to the Freeburn Hotel, which was built in 1745 and is said to have been used by Charlie on his journey to defeat at Culloden.

The premises, which was refurbished in 1895, became a Little Chef in the 1960s and was razed ten years ago.

Applicant the Tomatin Trading Company pledged to “be part of the country’s renaissance of all things Highland”.

Managing director William Frame said: “Securing planning permission is an important step forward.”