Updated plans for £100m Angus resort given green light
Construction on a £100m world-class golf resort, hotel and spa in the Angus countryside is expected to get under way this summer after councillors approved an updated plan for the luxury destination.
The development, on the Shank of Omachie near Broughty Ferry, will include Dundee and Angus's first five-star hotel.
The Angus owner, Mike Forbes of the nearby Forbes of Kingennie country resort, welcomed the decision by Angus Council's Development Standards committee to approve amendments to the hotel design and layout.
The approved plans include a 175-bedroom hotel, a rooftop sky bar and 1,900 sq m spa and leisure facilities overlooking the Tay Estuary and St Andrews.
A hotel partner is expected to be announced in the coming months. The development has been on the cards for some time, with the property originally expected to open in 2015 under Wyndham Hotels and Resorts' upscale Wyndham Grand Collection.
The development will also be the anchor for a golf course designed by Irish champion golfer Darren Clarke, alongside a clubhouse and golf academy with driving range, 160 houses and 10 luxury lodges.
Forbes said: "We are delighted that the updated plans for the Angus have been approved and thank Angus Council for supporting our vision to create an iconic hotel and golf development.
"We have worked tirelessly to create plans for a resort that will surpass anything on offer in Scotland and firmly position Dundee and Angus as a world-class destination for tourists.
"As a long-established tourism business in Angus, we are proud to be moving forward with creating a five-star hotel and luxury spa, as well as the first signature golf course by legendary Ryder Cup winner and former Open champion Darren Clarke."
He added: "We will now begin the preparatory work on stage one of the construction programme, which will see building work starting on the golf course later this summer."
The Angus had already secured planning permission in principle, with a section 42 order granted by the local authority in 2017 to allow a newly appointed project team to make alterations to the original designs.
Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland regional leadership director, said: "It is fantastic to see the Angus move onto the next stage of development. The proposed five-star resort will make an impressive addition to the strengthening tourism and leisure portfolio in Dundee and Angus.
"Tourism an increasingly important part of Dundee and Angus economies with this level of investment and job creation a vote of confidence in our sector as we recover from the pandemic. We look forward to working with the team as the development continues."
The Forbes family is working with 3D Reid architects, Ryden, Morrison Construction, Balgair and Manson Architects, and with Team Niblick on golf course design and project manager CPC to oversee the development.
Leveraged & Equity Global Capital (L&EGC) has been appointed as financing partner for the development. L&EGC and its UK division Credit Risk Mitigation have secured Invictus Risk Solutions and its broking partner to create a portfolio of insurances through Lloyds of London and the London Corporate market that will underpin investment in the Angus during construction and beyond.
It is hoped the Angus will open in 2024.
Photo: 3D Reid
