New Kingask plans lodged with council

The Citizen, 5 March 1999

The developers behind the plan to construct a major hotel and golf courses project at Kingask, near St Andrews, have submitted a new and more fully-detailed application to Fife Council East Area Planning Service.

lain MacKinnon, operations director of St Andrews Bay Development Ltd. said: ‘‘We have carefully considered the reasoning behind the East Area Development Committee’s decision last month to refuse our previous application and have done all we can to fully address their concerns.

“Though the previous application had the unanimous support of Fife Council officials, it became clear there were a number of items which continued to concern the Committee.

“In particular, there was some anxiety that permission for the full extent of the development had not been sought in the previous application. This was due entirely to our construction schedule, although we did submit full supporting information for the remainder of the development.

“However, we recognise these concerns. This new application covers the complete development in all its phases.

“In addition, we have sought to clarify the situation regarding the potential impact on traffic flow through St Andrews. We are in no doubt that concerns about the traffic which may be generated by St Andrews Bay have been, and continue to be, grossly exaggerated and distorted.

‘‘To the contrary, it is evident that the operational nature of St Andrews Bay, coupled with our agreement to a number of traffic mitigation requirements, can in fact provide permanent solutions to improve traffic circulation.

“Independent assessments, plus the study carried out by Fife Council Transportation Service, confirm that such measures will be of lasting benefit to traffic flow in St Andrews, and are consistent with the aims of the St Andrews Transportation Strategy.”

St Andrews Bay planning consultant, Mr Des Montgomery, of Montgomery Forgan Associates, Cupar, said: “We have made significant changes to the masterplan, to address some of the worries of the elected members.

“These include re-locating the Spa element to the Kingask steadings. This will substantially reduce the scale of building works at the hotel site. We have also introduced a substantial increase in the woodland planting proposed for the site, and have re-stated our long-term wish to work closely with Scottish Natural Heritage in creating an enhanced landscape. Discussions are continuing with SNH and they have provided supporting advice on the selection of tree species and other habitat matters.

“There can be no doubt the development will make a considerable contribution to the economy of the area and proposals are consistent with the aims of the Fife Structure Plan and the St Andrews Local Plan with regard to the encouragement of tourist-related development.

“The development will, furthermore, be consistent with the objectives of the St Andrews Strategic Study. In particular, the development directly addresses the need to look to broadening the tourism strategy and to focus on, for example, the conference market and to stimulate activity during the shoulder months.

‘‘With the road improvements which will take place in St Andrews, there is no doubt that conditions for traffic, both vehicles and pedestrians, will improve. Development is consistent with the St Andrews Transportation Strategy.”

The 208 bedroom hotel, two top-quality golf courses and associated conference and leisure facilities, was scheduled to be operational by the summer of next year.

The construction phase will create 500 jobs, while permanent employment for 300 is anticipated in the completed development.

Mr MacKinnon added: “We remain convinced that the St Andrews Bay development will be of enormous benefit to the area, locally and regionally.

“In my view, such quality investment in Fife is not only desirable, but vital, if the Kingdom is to consolidate its desire to be a major player in a global tourism market which is becoming ever more selective and demanding.”