Building's shocking condition slated

The Courier, 18 July 2008

Criticism keeps mounting in St Andrews over the failure of the US owners of one of the town's best-known buildings to stop its apparent deterioration.

St Andrews Preservation Trust has joined the chorus of disapproval over the "shocking" condition of the former Hamilton Hall student residence, near the 18th green of the Old Course. Trust members have called on the owners to make clear what their plans are for the six-storey building.

Local Fife councillor Robin Waterston, has slated the current position and appealed to its US owners to commit to its redevelopment or sell it to someone who will.

The property was sold to Rhode Island-based Wasserman Real Estate Capital by St Andrews University in 2004 in a deal put at £22 million. Planning permission was granted in 2006 to convert it into 20-plus luxury timeshare apartments to be marketed worldwide.

But, no work has taken place at the one-time Grand Hotel - apart from its interior being gutted. It is now becoming an embarrassment and showing obvious signs of deterioration.

"Not so grand," is the view of David Middleton, of the preservation trust. "What, if anything, is going on is the question to be answered, and quickly, by Wasserman Real Estate Capital."

The trust said that unless remedial measures are taken and development gets properly under way, the landmark building will be an eyesore and a disgrace to the town when the Open Championship next comes to St Andrews in 2010.

Mr Middleton, planning convener of the trust, said, "Now the much-advertised completion date of Spring 2008 has passed, there is a clear need for the developers to say what progress has been made. People want to know how many apartments have been sold other than one to US golfer Phil Mickleson, and what is the new projected completion date for the development.

"They should also explain why the failed completion date is still being advertised on various websites, which have not been updated this year."

And it was "curious" that the websites refer viewers for further information to a particular site, but efforts to log on fail.

The trust has also pointed to the situation in St Andrews regarding large quality hotels.

Mr Middleton said, "On the one hand the former Grand Hotel is becoming disused and dilapidated. On the other you have a major hotel group, Crerar, applying for planning permission for a greenfield site on the boundary of the town in the teeth of widespread, informed local opposition, including the trust.

"If the Crerar development is allowed to go ahead, it will drive a coach and horses through plans for a meaningful green belt around St Andrews.

"The time may well come when St Andrews councillors will have to examine the case for any Fife Council action to prevent further deterioration of the Grand Hotel building."

He said the council should also press Wasserman's to explain fully where they are with the highly ambitious, possibly "over-ambitious," project.

He added, "Is this going to be another example of a failed operation from an organisation based at a distance from St Andrews? We already have the example of the Gateway: luckily St Andrews University was able to step in and rescue the building when the grandiose golf-related plans fell through.

"The Grand Hotel situation is extremely serious and the owners owe it to the people of St Andrews and golfing visitors to the town to come clean."

Fife councillor Robin Waterston was also scathing in his criticism of the developers. "They urgently need to commit the necessary investment to this wonderful building or sell it to someone who will. When will they accept their responsibilities of good stewardship?"

The building is only yards from the R&A's headquarters, the renowned back drop to some of the most thrilling golf championships ever staged.

It is a sad sight. Several windows are smashed, others boarded up or covered with polythene, rubbish and debris litter the rear of the building.

Townspeople, councillors, MSP Ted Brocklebank, St Andrews Community Council, the business community and R&A have all raised concerns over the future of the listed building.

Owner David Wasserman, whose company also has a controlling interest in Kingsbarns golf links, yesterday said development options were still being considered - comments similar to those he made to The Courier six months ago. He added, "We are still working and hope to make a start announcement soon."