Councillors have approved a plea for extra time after being told a £70m golf resort can transform Angus just like the V&A has transformed Dundee.
Angus businessman Mike Forbes said the proposed five-star scheme near Wellbank and the Forbes of Kingennie estate would create hundreds of new jobs and have an annual direct economic impact of £13.9m for the local economy and £18.3m to the wider area.
Mr Forbes was first given the green light in 2010 to build the golf development, to be known as The Angus.
Mr Forbes said: “We do not have anything of this magnitude in Angus and it’s absolutely paramount to put a flag in the ground and say we are really here to be a destination.
“I’ve put a large amount of time, money and effort into driving this because I feel so passionate about Angus and what we can do for Angus.
“I firmly believe we already have enough municipal golf courses and this is the huge difference – The Angus is an international golf course.”
The developers have failed to break turf and Mr Forbes was given a five-year time extension in 2016, which gave him two more years to secure an investment partner and a further three years to settle planning.
A legally binding and unconditional contract is finally in place with First Capital Real Estate from New York and Mr Forbes sought a further planning extension after failing to meet the April 2019 deadline.
A special meeting of Angus Council in Forfar on Thursday approved conditional changes which will allow a further period of three years for the submission of applications and a subsequent period of two years for commencement of development.
A United Nations tourism consultant also told councillors the development would drag Angus “out of the second division” and drive up visitor numbers and expenditure.
Professor John Lennon, the founding director of the Moffat Centre, said: “The development can transform this part of Scotland in the way the recent developments in Dundee have helped transform that city.
“What we are looking at here is a significant quality development which will put the destination on the map and will create an appeal that we haven’t seen here.
“We believe firmly there is a direct economic impact from this development of £13.9m per year with indirect, induced impacts of another £18.3m.”
He said there would be 132 full-time jobs with a further 160 indirect jobs.
Professor Lennon said there would also be significant construction jobs during the development period including 130 direct jobs and 285 indirect jobs.
The 18-hole course was designed by Ryder Cup hero and 2011 Open winner Darren Clarke who first stayed at the Forbes of Kingennie resort in 2007.
Angus Council’s economic development spokesperson Braden Davy said the development linking “hand in hand” with the V&A would be “phenomenal for Angus”.
He said: “We lack hotel capacity in Angus and this development will help us address that, creating high end accommodation to boost our local economy.
“This development will bring 130 new full time jobs, and 160 indirect jobs, £13.9m for the local economy, £18.3m to the wider area, and over £32m in benefits every year to Angus.”
The Angus resort would also include a golf academy, hotel, spa and lodges, golf clubhouse and 160 residential plots.
