A four-storey hotel overlooking the 18th hole of the Old Course at St Andrews has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish government to build a modern extension despite fears it will damage one of the town’s best-loved views (Paris Gourtsoyannis writes).
Plans to expand the four-star Macdonald Rusacks Hotel were rejected by councillors in December but have been approved by the Scottish government planning reporter following an appeal.
The new building, far right, will overlook the famous Swilcan Bridge, where golfers who win the Open stand and celebrate their victory, and where Jack Nicklaus bade an emotional farewell to the championship in 2005.
Heritage campaigners said that the design would detract from the views that draw tens of thousands of visitors to the Fife town each year.
In its judgment, the Scottish government’s planning appeals directorate said that the hotel “would not have a harmful impact in the designated landscape of the Old Course”, arguing instead that the building would “at least preserve and in some respects enhance the character or appearance” of St Andrews.
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Local councillors who voted against the hotel when the application was considered last year were disappointed by the decision.
Brian Thomson, a councillor, said the building would be constructed “at the expense of the most iconic setting in world golf — a setting that has remained relatively unchanged since the 1890s and is one of the reasons for attracting visitors to St Andrews”.
Dorothea Morrison, another councillor, said the building’s flat roof, which was designed to accommodate a rooftop restaurant, was out of keeping with the “quirky” details of historic buildings “that make up the character of St Andrews”.
Local conservation groups said the building was twice as tall as surrounding properties and claimed the design was “obviously flawed”.
John Matthews, chairman of the St Andrews Preservation Trust, said: “We’re disappointed that permission has been granted without any conditions other than relating to parking. It is difficult to oppose developers’ proposals, even when in our view they are so obviously flawed.”
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Gordon Fraser, the deputy chairman of Macdonald Hotels, said the project would be carefully managed to ensure the building blended in with its surroundings. Mr Fraser said the site would be developed with “the utmost sensitivity”.
Stephen Gallacher, a Scottish 2014 Ryder Cup team member who acts as an ambassador for Macdonald Hotels, called the design “stunning”.
Construction is due to begin in 2016.