A hospitality giant has announced plans for a key site that would house the largest roadside accommodation complex in Angus, The Courier can reveal.
For decades, oil workers and conference attendees have opted to book rooms and facilities in Aberdeen and Dundee due to a perceived lack of space in the county.
With the county’s largest venue, the Carnoustie Golf Hotel, often booked out by sports-loving tourists, chains have long had designs on a central site that would take advantage of the A90 dual carriageway and links with the two cities.
It has now emerged Whitbread/ Premier Inn are in talks with Angus Council and its partner Hermiston Securities over acquiring space at their Orchardbank Business Park in Forfar.
It is understood the chain would submit plans for a Premier Inn, consisting of 60 bedrooms or more.
Premier Inn’s head of acquisitions for Scotland Kevin Murray said the plans are part of Whitbread’s expansion plans for Scotland, with a target of 30,000 additional bedrooms by 2020, up from the present 59,000.
“As we respond to tremendous customer demand, we are looking to invest in sites and build more Premier Inns across Scotland,” he added.
“We’re keen to come to Orchardbank Business Park and are currently working on the details for a deal which, subject to legal contracts being concluded and planning permission, could see us bringing a 60-bedroom Premier Inn to Forfar, as well as jobs and investment.”
As well as local events such as the forthcoming Open at Carnoustie in 2018, Scottish Transport Extravaganza, and Montrose Music Festival, rooms are at a premium in Dundee during annual university graduations, the Flower and Food Festival and a host of Scottish Premier League fixtures involving Dundee FC, Dundee United, and visiting clubs St Johnstone and Aberdeen FC.
The move comes after The Courier also revealed plans for pub giant JD Wetherspoon to move into the members’ services building at The Cross in Forfar, which has been the subject of prolonged negotiation between the hostelry chain and Angus Council.
Wetherspoon is aiming to create a bar/restaurant/hotel in the 150-year-old town centre property after councillors agreed to sell the offices for £350,000.
The chain had originally offered £400,000 in an out-of-the-blue approach last year, but the council was forced into an open market sale when details of the planned private deal emerged.
Forfar was by-passed in 1987 but despite the development of the Orchardbank Business Park the site partners have been unable to attract a roadside accommodation provider.