Conservation worries over Murray’s hotel
Plans to relocate ancient sundial under scrutiny
TENNIS ace Andy Murray may have scaled the heights of his game, but the star’s foray into the luxury hotel business has hit a fault.
Conservation groups have raised concerns about his refurbishment plans for Cromlix House in Kinbuck, five miles from his home town of Dunblane, Stirlingshire, which he bought in February for £1.9 million.
The world No 2 tennis star wants to transform the 15-bedroom property into a five-star hotel, creating 40 jobs.
However, plans to relocate a historic 400-year-old stone sundial and gate posts that sit in the hotel’s grounds have attracted the attention of heritage groups.
Historic Scotland has said it is disappointed with the lack of detail in a planning application submitted to Stirling Council.
It said the structures are of national significance and has asked for a report from a stone conservation expert before giving its approval to the plans.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland has also said that by law it has a right to inspect the site for at least three months before work on moving the pieces can go ahead.
Stirling Council is set to rule on whether the renovations can go ahead next month, and work was expected to start within weeks.
However, the interventions could see delays in the timescale for work in the grounds.
In a letter to the local authority, Simon Montgomery, a senior heritage management officer at Historic Scotland, said: “We appreciate there is a significant urgency to getting this venture up and running as soon as possible and we hope we can be of assistance in resolving any significant planning issues quickly.
“We are therefore rather disappointed to see the drawings for this application really appear to be drawings for the new access and car parking, which therefore simply act as a location plan.
“We would really be seeking a report from a stone conservator with experience in conserving the likes of ancient carved stones and memorials, which confirms that dismantling and rebuilding will be possible without causing damage to them and the specification and new location will ensure their long-term future is secured.”
The sundial was put up at the hotel around 1920, but had once stood near Dunblane’s old police station. The plan is for it to be moved, along with the gateposts, to make way for a new car park.
Hotel group Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI) will manage Cromlix House on behalf of Murray, who also wants to build a new tennis court and conservatory at the site.
It is hoped the Victorian property, where Murray’s older brother Jamie married Alejandra Gutierrez in 2010, will be open by April next year.
Norbert Lieder, managing director of ICMI, said: “Cromlix has been unoccupied for more than a year and the building and grounds are in need of investment.
“The refurbishment plans proposed by the Murray family aim to preserve the historical structure of the hotel while creating an exclusive, five-star, 15-room hotel that brings significant benefit to the local community.
“Our planning application includes a proposal to reconfigure the entrance and parking to allow for anticipated customer demand. As part of this we propose moving the listed sundial and gate piers elsewhere on the property, where they can continue to be enjoyed by customers and the community.
“Our plans have not received any formal objections and we hope to work closely with both Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland to ensure we satisfy their requirements.”