Bosses at Glenapp Castle Hotel have been given the go-ahead to introduce a new addition to their luxury accommodation offering.
Top brass at the Ballantrae luxury retreat had submitted a planning application to South Ayrshire Council asking for the green light to convert an old cottage on the estate into rented accommodation.
The old building, next to the walled garden, had been used as a temporary tea-room, and, for a time, “limited” living accommodation.
However, since the estate team introduced the impressive Azalea Restaurant in May this year, the old building’s purpose as a tea-room was deemed surplus to requirements.
Now plans have been approved to refurbish the cottage, a listed building, and rent it out to guests.
A design statement says: “The proposal is to create, through refurbishment and extension, a high quality, one bedroomed, cottage rental accommodation, thereby expanding the offerings available within the hotel.”
The condition of the property is said to be "fair," but much of the stonework to the cottage is “low quality” and extensive, sensitive, remedial works “will be required” to reintroduce full integrity and “longevity” to it.
Among the work to be carried out, careful stonework “modification” will be undertaken and a new door and window will be formed from the living area, into the walled garden area.
Bosses say the proposal “innovatively repurposes” an “existing structure” within the grounds that has recently “become redundant” due to the bringing forward of the Azalea development.
A council report adds: “The proposed development would also represent an investment complementing the tourist offer and function of the hotel as a significant tourist facility.”
Glenapp Castle, built around 1870 and designed by iconic Scottish architect David Bryce, has been a luxury hotel since 1994.
It is one of Scotland’s highest rated Country House Hotels with five AA Red Stars, three AA Rosettes and five VisitScotland Gold Stars.
The hotel has built an international and national reputation and scooped several top accolades too.
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