Piperdam plans ‘worth £300,000 to economy’

Resort wants to add 20 more lodges to existing project

Plans to build 20 luxury lodges on a country golfing estate could bring in £300,000 to the local economy.

Piperdam Golf and Leisure Resorts has filed a planning application with Angus Council, detailing a millionpound development to build 20 new bespoke lodges on the site of the old driving range.

As many as 40 guests would be able to stay in the lodges, which cater for between one and three people per house.

If approved, the lodges would join almost 30 other similar houses under construction at Piperdam.

The company believes an additional 8,000 visitors a year will visit, which could potentially pump an extra £300,000 into the local economy.

Piperdam CEO David Copley said: “We have permission for 28 lodges which are under construction and should be ready to open by the middle of next year. We would like to carry on developing Piperdam as we feel it has the potential to be one of the largest and best tourist destinations in the area.”

A planning statement by architects Hiddleston and Feist said: “Piperdam Golf and Leisure Resort is the largest independent self-catering accommodation provider in Tayside.

“The business is a market leader in UK sport and activity holidays in terms of product and customer satisfaction and the additional tourists attracted to these 20 executive lodges will increase visitor number into the Angus economy by circa 8,000 persons per annum, and this will in turn procure on-site spending of £90,000 and off-site spending of £200,000.

“Local builders and suppliers will be sourced to construct and fit out this project, at an estimated cost of £1.9 million and when complete this project will create 15 full-time positions and generate a further ongoing spend of £500,000 per annum for local businesses, including cleaning and laundry services and food and drink companies.

“The complex is to be fuelled by the same biomass technology pioneered elsewhere in Piperdam.”

Scottish Water has said Clatto Park reservoir, which will supply water to the site, has sufficient capacity to serve the new properties.

The plans are due to go before Angus councillors before December 29.