An Angus businessman said his £100m golf resort and five-star hotel will surpass anything in Scotland as he was granted planning permission.
Forbes of Kingennie owner Mike Forbes is planning a hillside hotel with 175 rooms, a rooftop sky bar and 1,900 square metres of spa and leisure facilities.
The resort’s golf course has been designed by former Open champion Darren Clarke. 160 houses and 10 luxury lodges are also part of the plans.
The Shank of Omachie project, just over the Dundee border, is one of Scotland’s biggest hospitality investments in recent years.
Situated beside the Forbes of Kingennie resort, The Angus is due to open in 2024.
Delight as ambitious plans approved
Mr Forbes has been planning the dream project for more than a decade.
Work on the golf course will now start this summer after the green light from Angus Council’s development standards committee.
He said the finished result will “surpass anything on offer in Scotland”.
He said: “We thank Angus Council for supporting our vision to create an iconic hotel and golf development.
“We have worked tirelessly to create plans for a resort that will surpass anything on offer in Scotland.
“It will firmly position Dundee and Angus as a world-class destination for tourists.
“We will now begin the preparatory work on stage one of the construction programme. It will see building work starting on the golf course later this summer.”
The Angus golf resort’s impact on economy
The project could contribute more than £40m to the local economy per year once it is operational in around two years’ time.
The full development will generate more than 300 full and part-time jobs plus another 285 jobs during the construction and development phase.
In the coming months The Angus will announce a hotel partner.
Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland regional leadership director, welcomes the plans.
She said: “The proposed five-star resort will make an impressive addition to the strengthening tourism and leisure portfolio in Dundee and Angus.
“Tourism an increasingly important part of Dundee and Angus economies.
“This level of investment and job creation a vote of confidence in our sector as we recover from the pandemic.”
The Forbes family is working with 3D Reid architects, Ryden, Morrison Construction, Balgair, Manson Architects, Team Niblick (golf course design) and CPC (project management) to oversee the development.
