Significant changes need to be made to plans for Taymouth Castle to make them economically viable, it has been claimed.
Research by new owner Meteor Property Fund has shown that the previously approved scheme for a 72-suite luxury hotel is not suitable for the “post credit-crunch economic environment.”
While it hopes to implement many of the existing plans, the company could not make a “firm commitment” to follow through with any major works on the 450-acre Highland Perthshire estate.
Details of the proposed changes understood to relate to the spa and real estate elements of the plans, as well as improvements to the existing James Braid-designed golf course will go on public display at Kenmore next month. It is hoped these will be the subject of a planning application in due course.
Meteor says it wants to invite suggestions and be open with the community to gain support for its plans and ensure the application progresses quickly.
If and when consent is granted, work will begin immediately on the hotel, lodges, golf course and leisure facilities as Meteor believes it is “vital” that it is able to take advantage of the Ryder Cup when it comes to Gleneagles in 2014.
Development manager Martin Mortimer said, “Meteor is hoping to make a major investment in Taymouth, but needs to develop a strategy that is appropriate for the estate and financially viable and this is what we are working towards.
“Meteor has a duty to its investors to ensure the proposals are viable before it commences development. Since the original hotel concept was developed in 1926, many previous schemes for Taymouth Castle have foundered and it has stood empty since the 1970s, during which time it has obviously deteriorated.”
He said the firm had already spent a “significant” sum on developing the financial and architectural aspects of the scheme to ensure it will be beneficial to the whole area and easily delivered. It has also entered into discussions with the Kenmore community in a bid to find out what locals think should be done on the estate.Exciting”We think everyone wants to see a permanent and viable long-term solution to this exciting but complex project,” Mr Mortimer said. “The team has had preliminary discussions with official agencies and local organisations including Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland, Kenmore and District Community Council and the Breadalbane Development Association.
“Comments and suggestions from these meetings are being considered and, where possible, incorporated into the plans. In response to feedback already received, we have commissioned a structural survey on the Chinese bridge and found extensive repairs are needed to bring it back into use and fulfil health and safety requirements. We have every intention of carrying out this work, should our application prove successful, and would undertake the repairs as soon as possible.”
Plans are in place to make the Taymouth Estate more accessible to the public by incorporating various bridleways in the grounds once the original tracks and bridges are reinstated.
Mr Mortimer said, “The restoration of the castle and finding a solution that will bring it back into use are very much part of our plans, as is new investment in the golf course. As a gesture of good faith, we are carrying out essential repair and restoration works inside the castle as well as maintaining estate roads and tracks. We also plan to do some much-needed drainage repairs on the golf course.
“All of this activity is in keeping with the existing consent or is simply good estate management.”
The Taymouth Castle exhibition is at the Reading Room, Kenmore, on February 8 from noon-9pm and the following day from 7.30am-9pm. The proposals will be on display and key members of the project team, including architects from McKenzie Strickland, will be on hand to answer any questions.