Construction on a new £100m golf resort, hotel and spa in the Angus countryside will get underway this summer after councillors approved an updated masterplan.
The development, on the Shank of Omachie near Broughty Ferry, will create Dundee and Angus’ first five-star hotel.
The Angus could contribute more than £40m to the local economy per year once it is operational in around two years’ time.
The full development is expected to generate more than 300 full and part-time jobs, with a further 130 full-time equivalent posts and 285 additional employment positions during the construction and development phase.
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 new plans will see the hillside hotel offering 175 guest rooms, 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 will also be the anchor for a golf course by Irish champion golfer Darren Clarke, alongside a clubhouse and golf academy with driving range, plus 160 houses and 10 lodges.
Forbes said: “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.
The redesign aims to maximise the views, including a water feature in the entrance hall.
VisitScotland regional leadership director Caroline Warburton commented: “It is fantastic to see The Angus move onto the next stage of development.
“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.”
The Forbes family is working with a project team of partners including 3D Reid architects, Ryden, Morrison Construction, Balgair, Manson Architects, Team Niblick (golf course design) and CPC (project management).
Leveraged & Equity Global Capital has been appointed as financing partner. Its UK division, Credit Risk Mitigation, has secured Invictus Risk Solutions and its broking partner to create a portfolio of insurances through Lloyds of London that will underpin investment during construction and beyond.
It is hoped The Angus will be ready to open to the public in 2024.
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