A £5 million hotel extension could transform one of the most famous settings in sport after an appeal against initial rejection of the plans proved successful.
Councillors concerned about the development at the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, which overlooks the 18th hole at the Old Course in St Andrews, had hoped they had seen the last of the proposals when they turned them down in December.
But the project is now back on the table after the Scottish Government reporter overturned the decision of Fife Council’s north-east planning committee.
The hotel on Pilmour Links has provided the backdrop for some of the greatest stories in world golf over the years, with the Old Course vista one of the most recognisable across the globe.
However, that is all set to change as operator Macdonald Hotels has been allowed to press ahead with a six-storey expansion that will provide an extra 43 bedrooms.
Councillor Brian Thomson, who moved refusal of the application eight months ago, said he respected the outcome but is no less “disappointed” by it.
“Assuming that the construction of the extension now proceeds, I’m sure that it will have a nice interior, and offer fantastic views from its restaurant and terrace on the upper level,” he said.
“However, that will be at the expense of the most iconic setting in world golf; a setting that has remained relatively unchanged since the 1890s, and is one of the reasons for attracting visitors to St Andrews.”
Fellow councillor Dorothea Morrison echoed those sentiments.
“I’m very disappointed by this, because one of the things we tried to get over when we discussed this was that there are all sorts of quirky things that make up the character of St Andrews,” she said.
The project had initially been turned down on the grounds it would have a negative impact on a conservation area and residential amenity and would reduce parking spots in the area.
However, in his decision letter published this week, the Scottish Government reporter concluded that the proposed extension “would not have a harmful impact in the designated landscape of the Old Course”, and could “at least preserve and in some respects enhance the character or appearance” of the St Andrews conservation area.