Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Timeshare Plans For Top Hotel
A Luxury £20 million development plan for a North-east country house hotel has moved a step closer. Timeshare and golf development plans for Pittodrie House Hotel have been in the pipeline for about a decade. The latest application focuses on the hotel's commitment to build 79 timeshare cottages, an 18-hole golf course and four luxury homes.
The golf course would cover most of the estate, near Chapel of Garioch, to the south and east of the hotel, while the timeshare units would be built in five blocks to the east and north. The development comes as US businessman Donald Trump makes plans for a multi-million-pound golf resort at Balmedie.
The Trump Organisation is expected to submit its proposals for the Menie Estate by the end of the month.
Community leaders in villages near the Pittodrie House Hotel welcomed the latest resort plans but adopted a wait-and-see attitude over their environmental impact.
The scheme hit a hurdle in 2004 when Aberdeenshire Council knocked back a proposal to convert 30 of the proposed timeshare properties into permanent homes.
The owner, Macdonald Hotels, also ran into opposition from residents near the estate.
Macdonald Hotels has now turned its attention back to the original scheme to create a "significant tourism project" at the proposed golf resort.
East Garioch Community Council chairman Graeme Sutherland said: "I can't see there being a problem if this application is basically the same again - but it remains to be seen what the final application will look like."
The application was lodged with Aberdeenshire Council yesterday.
The golf course would cover most of the estate, near Chapel of Garioch, to the south and east of the hotel, while the timeshare units would be built in five blocks to the east and north. The development comes as US businessman Donald Trump makes plans for a multi-million-pound golf resort at Balmedie.
The Trump Organisation is expected to submit its proposals for the Menie Estate by the end of the month.
Community leaders in villages near the Pittodrie House Hotel welcomed the latest resort plans but adopted a wait-and-see attitude over their environmental impact.
The scheme hit a hurdle in 2004 when Aberdeenshire Council knocked back a proposal to convert 30 of the proposed timeshare properties into permanent homes.
The owner, Macdonald Hotels, also ran into opposition from residents near the estate.
Macdonald Hotels has now turned its attention back to the original scheme to create a "significant tourism project" at the proposed golf resort.
East Garioch Community Council chairman Graeme Sutherland said: "I can't see there being a problem if this application is basically the same again - but it remains to be seen what the final application will look like."
The application was lodged with Aberdeenshire Council yesterday.
# posted by John @ 5:08 AM 
