Radical changes to Kingask plans

Craig Nisbet, The Citizen, 18 December 1998

Radical changes to controversial plans for the Kingask golf course and hotel development have been lodged with the local authority.

In a move which the developers describe as a response to objections from local residents, their organisations and suggestions from Fife Council planners, a complete storey of the complex has been taken off the plan.

Rooms have been reduced in number from 240 to 208, the hotel itself has been moved towards the rear of the site and the number of “Scottish manors” has been halved from 10 to five and moved to the very back of the development.

A spokesman for the developers - St Andrews Bay Development Ltd. - said yesterday that the modifications represented a 30 per cent reduction in size to the original proposals.

The development will still include conference facilities, spa and two top quality golf courses.

The revised plans include the removal of an entire three-metre storey from the main hotel building, which will represent a cut of around one quarter in the total elevation area. Of equal significance has been the developers’ positive response to local objections to the numbers of additional accommodation units - Scottish manors - which will now be located at the very back of the development, blended into an extensive tree-shelter belt.

The developers’ spokesman added that the Scottish manors were still a key feature of the development and, like the hotel itself, were being designed to blend in with traditional Fife architecture.

Stressing the financial aspects of the proposal, and benefits to the area, he added that the completed development would cater for bluechip company conferences, generating in excess of £14 million a year in supplies and wages for the Fife economy.

He added that guests at the complex would extend the tourist season, pouring additional millions into local businesses.

Commenting on the revised proposals, Dr Donald Panoz, chairman of St Andrews Bay Development Ltd, said; “We have listened very carefully to local objections and to the helpful advice of the planners, and responded quickly and effectively.

‘‘We have produced major modifications to our original plans which have already received outline planning approval.

“While positively reacting to local suggestions and comments, we have succeeded in maintaining the unique character of this world-class development which will be an enhancement to the Kingask Estate and, indeed, to the North East Fife environment. ‘‘We have reduced the size of the hotel, conference centre, Scottish manors and car parking facilities, while significantly increasing landscaping and planting. By re-locating the Scottish manors and the hotel we have maintained the clear visual link from St Andrews across the coastal plain.

‘‘We hope that our rapid and comprehensive response to local concerns will now enable this superb development to proceed.”

The developers are still aiming to have the complex up and running in time for the Millennium Open Championship in St Andrews, and expecting to create around four to five hundred jobs on site during the construction stages with 300 permanent jobs in the hotel and its facilities.