Lawrie's £115m golf plan backed

A £115m plan for a golf course designed by former Open champion Paul Lawrie has been granted outline planning permission.

The project will also see a hotel and hundreds of new houses being built on the site of the former Blairs Seminary in Aberdeenshire.

The plans for Blairs were backed by a full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council.

The Scottish Government will now be asked to make a final decision on the proposals.

The development, which would also mean the preservation of existing listed buildings including the former seminary and museum, could take several years to complete.

"Aberdeen truly has the potential to become one of the world’s top golfing destinations and Blairs provides the ideal golf course setting",
Paul Lawrie.

Council officials recommended to councillors it be approved on the grounds of the significant employment, economic and tourism benefits it could bring.

The prestigious complex of listed buildings operated as a seminary school from 1829 to 1986, when it closed due to falling numbers.

John Muir, chairman of Muir Group, which is behind the plans, said: "We are very pleased that Aberdeenshire Council voted in favour of outline consent.

"We now look forward to a final decision by the Scottish Government and hopefully then working with the council and the local community to discuss the detail of how the development will take shape."

The course will be designed by Mr Lawrie, from Aberdeen, who said: "Aberdeen truly has the potential to become one of the world’s top golfing destinations and Blairs provides the ideal golf course setting.

"I am delighted with today’s support from the full council and now wholeheartedly urge the Scottish Government to use its power to allow this development to go ahead and help me deliver to my local community an international championship golf course they can be proud of."