Fife golf proposals set for approval

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 26 March 2004

St Andrews could soon have another two 18-hole golf courses and a range of associated facilities.

It has just been revealed that Fife Council planning officials are recommending approval for two hotly-debated applications relating to sites lying to the south-east and the south-west of the town.

The two applications are due for consideration at next week’s meeting of the councils’ East Area planning committee, and the discussion will bring to a head months of controversy.

Although both proposals are golf related they are very different in nature and are targeting different sections of the market.

St Andrews Links Trust is bidding to add a 7th public course to the half dozen already provided next to the sea and the Eden Estuary.

The trust wishes to use land at Brownhills and Kinkell for the new public course, a clubhouse and a practice area.

The other plans are from the St Andrews International Golf Club, which essentially wants to develop a private club aimed at the overseas market on land at Feddinch. In addition to the golf course there would be a clubhouse with 40 accommodation suites, and a green-keeper’s store.

In the run up to the committee discussion there have been two well attended public meetings, and views on both sets of plans have been sought from local and national bodies.

Discussion had included topics such as economic impact, traffic generation, and demand for the facilities to be provided.

There has also been the all important question of possible “prematurity” of both applications in advance of the provision of a new local plan and designation of a green belt.

Councillors have been provided with lengthy reports on both applications and in the case of the St Andrews Links Trust project development control team leader Nick Brian has concluded that the proposals would be justified, would provide a contribution to the economy of St Andrews and would not be pre-judicial to policy.

In relation to the Feddinch scheme Mr Brian said that the proposals from the St Andrews International Golf Club would involve the formation of “an additional element” to the local tourist and economic base.

He said that they would represent a facility not currently available in the locality and that there could be creation of jobs and diversification of the tourist base.

Both applications have been recommended for approval subject to a wide range of conditions and both will also require the parties involved to sign a legal agreement relating to issues such as transport.