The developer behind plans to revive a planned golf and leisure complex at Feddinch near St Andrews has applied for permission to regularise an allegedly unauthorised site access.
The move, at a time the eyes of the golfing world are again on St Andrews, has been made by Scotia Investments LP, of London.
They want to build a scaled-down version of the plan originally estimated at £30 million, but now estimated at around half that.
The council has claimed access work by the previous developer, the St Andrews International Golf Club, was done without planning permission and was on the point of taking enforcement action to restore the site to its original condition when Scotia’s legal team contacted it.
The north-east Fife committee backed away from taking action and in May continued the matter, supposedly for a month, but the situation remains unresolved.
There is also debate over the status of the golf and leisure plans that appeared sunk when councillors refused an extension of time for the planning application.
Scotia has said that it will either appeal or submit a fresh application for the whole scheme.
Scotia, whose spokesman is Angus-based businessman Ewan McKay, has now lodged a planning application to cover work already done, and access to what it calls the Feddinch Mansion development/settlement.
In a letter accompanying the application, Scotia’s agent, the Paul Hogarth Company, said the council’s legal opinion is incorrect but, “without prejudice”, Scotia has decided to submit a part-retrospective access plan.
Details of the scaled-down £15-20 million proposal for a golf course and luxury accommodation on the site are outlined in a letter from Jirehouse Capital Trustees, which said the key objective was to create a “truly private” international golf course and club resort.
Jirehouse said discussions have been held with a number of individuals and investor groups with a view to their providing the funding necessary for the construction of the golf course and club.
It expects funding to come from a core group of 20-30 individuals and 10-20 corporate or consortium groups, and by selling international and domestic memberships.
Jirehouse said interim, or bridge, funding will be provided as necessary.
In all, 40% of founders or members are expected to come from the UK, 40% from the US and the balance from Europe and Asia, with sales distribution networks established in each region.
The Feddinch scheme has been around in one form or another since 2004, with planning permission granted in 2005.
However, it has remained unimplemented, and expired without certain conditions being met.
St Andrews International Golf Club went out of business, and Scotia has an agreement with the administrators to take forward the development.
Mr McKay was part of the team that gained the original planning consent for the site in 2005.
It was then sold on to the American tycoon Tim Blixseth, but he gave up control during a divorce action and the scheme subsequently foundered.