Entrepreneur plans scaled- down revamp
Boutique hotel for Belleisle House not five- star resort
The Belleisle House Hotel dream is back in business - but on a smaller scale.
The Ayr mansion was supposed to be transformed into an elite five- star resort but will now become a boutique hotel instead.
It is understood building work could start immediately after planning permission is granted.
The dramatic change in direction comes five years after developer John Campbell first bought the premises and vowed to carry out a £ 5 million makeover.
The Auchinleck entrepreneur met with council bosses a week on Friday past to discuss resubmitting a new plan for the listed building.
Community councils heard the news at meetings last week.
Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council chair Norman McLean said: “John Campbell wants to come forward with a boutique hotel, which is marvellous news. It is a step in the right direction because it is on a smaller scale and will not have the same planning hurdles and will be much simpler. There are assurances he will start work as soon as he gets planning permission.”
The development was also welcomed at Alloway and Doonfoot Community Council.
Chair Mariyln Dalgleish said: “I would like to think after all our discussions it will move quickly.”
Councillor Siobhian Brown said Mr Campbell would “scale down” the Belleisle development.
Mr Campbell has poured £ 1.3 million into saving the grand house and making it watertight. Since the initial repair work the building has been derelict while Mr Campbell and South Ayrshire Council failed to agree on parking spaces. The rest of Belleisle Park has enjoyed a boost in visitors thanks to a new playpark and golf clubhouse. And an old stable block is being converted into a cafe and visitor hub. Residents have been waiting for the Belleisle Hotel to make the park complete. But Mr Campbell has told the Post in previous interviews that the problems with lack of parking was hindering the project.
He has already pulled off a hotel transformation project - refurbishing the 300- yearold Dumfries Arms Hotel in Cumnock.