St Andrews: Plan for luxury lodges takes step forward.

Major tourism, commercial and leisure proposal for outskirts of St Andrews

Plans for a new £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.

The Courier understands 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 new house building in 2008 just prior to the crash, said he was “hugely excited” about the project.

“St Andrews is a fabulous location, a town offering great golf, a fantastic foodie vibe and lots to see and do, with a coastal location to boot,” he said.

“To have not invested in this park in a proven location like St Andrews would have been a major missed opportunity as the sector is so vibrant.”

The site covers around 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.

Planning permission in principle was granted in March 2010 for an “eco village” covering a larger site, which would have seen the creation of a commercial leisure development including 15 houses, 20 ‘eco’ holiday units, retail, leisure, commercial and exhibition space, and a new restaurant, visitor centre and craft workshops.

The planning permission was varied in March 2012 to extend validity of the original consent by a further two years.

However, part of the site was acquired by Gleneagles Holiday Park Ltd last December with a view to developing out the luxury lodges element of the planning permission.

A supporting statement in the recently-submitted scoping request confirmed the company places the “principles of sustainability” at the heart of its offering.

“Gleneagles Holiday Park Ltd is committed to developing proposals that are of the highest environmental and design quality, sensitive to the environment of the site and which maximise the opportunities for environmental enhancement,” it adds.

To have not invested in this park in a proven location like St Andrews would have been a major missed opportunity as the sector is so vibrant. WILLIAM STEWART JR