The planning committee of St Andrews Community Council has formally objected to the latest proposed stage of a £25 million golf course development under construction on green belt land at Feddinch.
The community council is objecting to the proposed formation of a service yard including plant and machinery enclosure, golf course maintenance buildings including laundry and buggy store, biomass heating plant, car park and access to the A915. It is also objecting to a proposed access route linking the proposed maintenance area to the golf club building.
The latest stage of the application by St Andrews International Golf Club (SAIGC) is proposed for land north of Feddinch Mains, near St Andrews.
The applicant stated in November that the ambitious project is on course for a grand opening in the summer of 2016.
In a letter of objection, the community council’s planning convener, Howard Greenwell, said the latest applications were contrary to policies on development in the countryside, green belt and protection of agricultural land.
Mr Greenwell said: “The proposals are ‘not for the extension of established businesses’ this business is far from being established. The golf course is still under construction and the ‘clubhouse’ a 160-bed hotel cannot be started until the golf course is finished. The buildings are not appropriate in countryside and would have a detrimental visual impact on the area.”
Regarding the green belt, Mr Greenwell said: “There is nothing in this policy to support the proposals. The policy also states that ‘a major consideration will be maintaining the landscape setting of the town’.
“It is hard to over-emphasize the importance of the town’s landscape setting, which is nationally and internationally recognised, and the role it plays in contributing to tourism.”
On the protection of agricultural land, he added: “We need agricultural land for food and it should not be squandered on speculative golf developments, which may or may not be successful. Even if successful, it is difficult to see how this project will bring any benefit to local people.”
Mr Greenwell said the St Andrews area was already “over-supplied with hotels and non-links golf courses.
SAIGC will be the first and only private, member-owned golf club at St Andrews with its own course. Sited at Feddinch, on the southern boundary of St Andrews, the facilities will comprise an 18-hole world-class golf course with a bye hole, to settle matches, and a practice range, all designed by 1973 Open champion Tom Weiskopf, along with a clubhouse.
SAIGC declined to comment on the St Andrews Community Council objection.