£50m golf hotel gets green light

Developers believe the Rutherford Castle proposals will help the area to rival any of the other major golfing venues across Scotland

Councillors in the Scottish Borders have approved plans for a £50m hotel at a golf course in the region.

Planning officers had recommended approval for the proposed 150-bedroom, five-star hotel at the Rutherford Castle Golf Club near West Linton.

Developers claim that up to 300 jobs will be created by the scheme.

Scottish Borders Council's planning committee gave the all clear to the proposal at its meeting in Newtown St Boswells.

Rutherford Castle Golf Club sits north of the village of West Linton, about 15 miles south of Edinburgh.

This is exactly the kind of investment we need at this time Vicky Davidson SBC councillor

Mark Cummings, spokesman for developers Manor Kingdom Estates, said he was pleased to have secured planning approval from the council.

"In the current economic climate this support is most welcome," he said.

"Our investment of £50m can come forward within the next two years and we look forward to starting the work in early 2009 with a hope that we can complete the project before the end of 2010.

"We remain fully committed to ensuring that as much of the economic benefit from this project can be secured by individuals and companies within the Scottish Borders."

Councillor Vicky Davidson, executive member for economic development, said it was a "good decision" for the region.

"This is exactly the kind of investment we need at this time," she said.

"Not only will the hotel and conference centre create up to 300 jobs in the West Linton area and be a major boost to tourism in the area, but with construction hopefully getting under way early in 2009 this will provide a significant number of construction jobs."