Developers line up golf club expansion
New 18-hole course planned to complement Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course alongside hotel, self-catering, clubhouse, restaurant, spa and professional shop
Almost 650 people attended a consultation event to discuss multi-million pound plans for a new golf course and hotel and leisure development at Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club.
Kintyre Development Company Limited representatives and technical consultants present at the drop-in event were, back row, from left: Paul Kimber, Ross Wilkie, Ben Steele and Euan Dale, and front: Andy Hogan, Alec Milne, Greg Sherwood and Robin Matthew.
Initial plans for a multi-million pound Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club expansion set to rival Scotland’s top golf resorts have been revealed.
Ahead of submitting two planning applications to Argyll and Bute Council for the formation of a new golf course and the erection of a hotel and leisure development at the Machrihanish Dunes resort, Kintyre Development Company Limited (KDC) carried out a public consultation event at Campbeltown Town Hall in January.
KDC is a subsidiary of Southworth Development LLC, which is the primary owner, developer and manager of Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, as well as The Royal Hotel in Campbeltown, and The Ugadale Hotel and The Old Clubhouse Pub and Restaurant in Machrihanish.
The development company plans to build a new 18-hole, par-72 golf course to complement the existing Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course, as well as a hotel, clubhouse, restaurant and spa, professional shop and detached, semi-detached and courtyard-style lodge accommodation.
As well as being home to the clubhouse, the three-storey main block is set to feature a first floor function room, a ground floor reception and restaurant, and a basement pool and spa.
Almost 650 members of the public took advantage of the opportunity to discuss concept plans for the various elements of the planned build development at the town hall drop-in consultation event.
Representatives of KDC and technical consultants present
at the meeting were: Andy Hogan, expansion project manager; Greg Sherwood, president of Southworth Golf; Paul Kimber of golf course architects Kimber and Glen; Alec Milne of GD Lodge Architects; transportation/ flooding/site investigation consultant Euan Dale of Goodson Associates; environmental consultant Ross Wilkie of Brindley Associates; environmental impact assessment consultant Ben Steele of Heathfield Environmental Ltd; and planning consultant Robin Matthew of PPCA Ltd.
The representatives shared information including location, golf course and build development plans, and environmental impact assessment studies looking at utilities, roads and transport, flooding and drainage, ground conditions, ecology and ornithology, archaeology and cultural heritage, landscape and visual impact, and coastal processes.
They also encouraged visitors to complete feedback forms, comments from which will influence the ongoing development of the proposals and be included in a formal pre-application consultation report that will form part of the planning applications.
Members of the public still have until Wednesday (February 9) to share their views with the developers.
Those who took feedback forms from the consultation event can post them to Andy Hogan, Royal Hotel, 1 Kinloch Road, Campbeltown, PA28 6AG or PPCA Ltd, 39 Dunipace Crescent, Dunfermline, KY12 7LZ.
They can also be emailed to Mr Hogan at andyhogan1977@gmail.com, or to Robin Matthew at PPCA at robin@ppca.co.uk.
Further information on the proposals can be obtained by contacting Mr Matthew via the aforementioned methods or by telephoning 07515 796974.
Speaking to the Courier following the consultation event, Mr Hogan said: ‘I am excited about this project and what this can do for tourism in Kintyre and Campbeltown, along with the prospect of employment and extra business for the local community.
‘Southworth Development is creating a resort that will rival all in the business and I feel so proud to be part of it.’
The news was also welcomed by South Kintyre councillor Donald Kelly, of Argyll First, who said: ‘This will be a fantastic project for the area and might just help our petition for a full-time ferry service between Campbeltown and Ardrossan which will be evaluated later this year.
‘Improving connectivity between Campbeltown is vital whether it be by land, sea or air.’
All images on these two pages are from the consultation technical handout booklet and presentation slides and are courtesy of KDC and Southworth Development LLC.
‘I am excited about this project and what this can do for tourism in Kintyre and Campbeltown.’