Developers behind a 24-hour petrol station plan for a gateway Angus site have claimed putting a replacement hotel back on the land is an economic non-starter.
Forecourt giant Euro Garages is behind a scheme to develop a filling station, shop and drive-thru coffee stop on ground where Arbroath’s former Seaforth Hotel stood until it was destroyed by an early morning blaze in 2006.
The prime site, just a few hundred yards from Arbroath FC’s Gayfield Park, was given 2018 approval for a 24-bed hotel and restaurant plan but it has not gone ahead.
EG Group say they will buy the site if the planning green light is given but have ruled out putting up a hotel on cost grounds.
Angus councillors have yet to consider the scheme but the authority’s economic development chief has already registered her opposition to the petrol station plan.
Euro Garages say they hope 50 part and full-time jobs could be created by the development.
The company commissioned a hotel viability report and said it indicated there was no appetite among leading national operators to develop a roadside hotel/restaurant development in the Angus town. It also highlighted a lack of local interest in developing the site for such a use in the past 14 years.
The report suggested a lodge/restaurant development would result in a negative site value in excess of a £1.1 million.
Angus economic development boss Alison Smith has said she does not believe the petrol station plan to be the best option.
“The vacant site where this proposal is based as for many years now lain empty and is not attractive or welcoming for visitors or local residents.
“Development on the site could contribute to improving such a prominent location in the town, she added, saying it was “disappointing” hotel plans had not progressed in light of a shortage of local accommodation.
“However a well-developed project on this site will enhance the seafront area, provide services and make it more attractive to visitors and locals.
Visitor nights contribute around £30 million a year to a total annual tourism injection of around £200m into the Angus area.
The official said: “The proposed development…will utilise a currently unused site and provide a relatively small number of mostly low paid jobs. This will not diversify the offer currently available in Arbroath, despite bringing welcome development.
“This development may result in displacement of current spend/jobs in the area and not contribute to additional benefits.
“Overall, despite welcoming plans to invest and provide jobs in Angus, I believe that the opportunity and potential to develop this site as a hotel/leisure venue and the demand for such, outweighs the plans submitted in this proposal.”
