£20m luxury lodges plan for ‘fabulous location’

PLANS for a £20 million tourism, commercial and leisure development on the outskirts of St Andrews have moved a step forward.

Gleneagles Holiday Park Ltd intends to submit a planning application to Fife Council for 82 luxury holiday lodges and associated uses on a site at Northbank Farm, near Cameron.

Although at an early stage in the planning process, it is thought the so-called Northbank Luxury Lodge Development — just east of Cameron Reservoir — could provide a huge job and economic boost to the area if it gets the go-ahead. It’s understood that the proposals have progressed this week after Gleneagles Holiday Park Ltd formally requested a scoping opinion from Fife Council, seeking the local authority’s view on what issues a subsequent environmental impact assessment should touch on.

The scheme is the brainchild of the Stewart family, who own and operate three luxury lodge developments — Lochmanor and Grand Eagles in Perthshire, and Lochlands in Angus.

William Stewart Jr, a young businessman who got out of house building in 2008 just prior to the crash, said he was “hugely excited” about the project. He said: “St Andrews is a fabulous location, offering great golf, a fantastic foodie vibe and lots to see and do, with a coastal location to boot. To have not invested in this park in a proven location like St Andrews would have been a major missed opportunity.”

The site covers about six hectares on the north of the A915 Largoward to St Andrews road and is mostly used for agricultural grazing, with woodland and tree belts a feature.