The owner of an iconic St Andrews hotel has accused Fife Council of failing to give enough weight to the economic benefits of extending it.
A £7 million expansion and renovation of the Rusacks Hotel, which overlooks the iconic 18th hole of the Old Course, was denied planning consent by the council’s north east planning committee.
Macdonald Hotels has appealed against the decision, claiming that more regard should have been given to the “very significant” contribution to the economy the additional 43 bedrooms and restaurant would make.
The chain stated that the modern extension to the four-star hotel would create 18 jobs during construction and eight in the hotel, safeguard the hotel’s existing 47.5 full-time posts and support 128.5 full-time jobs in the supply chain.
Some £1.7m a year would be contributed to the Fife economy and £3.6m Scotland-wide, it claimed.
A submission to the Scottish Government’s Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) from its legal agent Burness Paull said: “There is a pressing need for new hotel rooms in St Andrews in the three and four star range.
“The appeal proposal will contribute a large proportion of this unmet need and will help to attract more visitors to St Andrews.
“This development will also boost the economy of St Andrews and Fife significantly by creating new jobs and safeguarding existing jobs.
“The council has failed to weigh the economic benefits of the appeal against what it perceives as the detrimental impacts of the proposal on neighbouring amenity and the historic environment,” it said.
Challenging the committee’s decision, Macdonald Hotels insisted the six-storey extension to the Pilmour Links building complied with the council’s development plan policies and would replace an unattractive gap site with a building of very high design and architectural standard.
Councillors refused planning consent in the interests of protecting the character and appearance of the conservation area and a listed building, residential amenity and road and pedestrian safety.
A further reason given for refusal was that the extension would be unacceptable in scale, density and design given its prominent location and the streetscape.
The council defended the decision in its response to the DPEA, arguing that the extension would “dominate and overpower, ultimately detracting from the Old Course”.
A site inspection will be conducted by Scottish Government-appointed reporter Richard Dent, with a decision due by July 24.