£50m De Vere resort to create 300 jobs

Published on Saturday 18 October 2008 15:01

PROPERTY developer Manor Kingdom Estates and luxury hotel operator De Vere have teamed up to create a five-star resort in the Scottish Borders which they say will create 300 jobs.

They are to invest 50m in the Rutherford Castle Hotel resort in West Linton, which will provide upmarket accommodation and facilities.

Manor Kingdom has applied for planning permission from Scottish Borders Council and hopes to have a response before the end of the year.

De Vere runs a number of exclusive resorts, including Cameron House near Loch Lomond.

A spokesman for Manor Kingdom said southeast Scotland lacks a luxury resort hotel on a par with Cameron House, Turnberry in Ayrshire and St Andrews Bay Hotel.

He said: "Rutherford Castle offers easy access to the city of Edinburgh and the airport. It will attract international visitors to the Scottish Borders and retain them for a longer stay."

He added that about 300 employees will be required to run the resort, which will include a spa and business conference centre.

If the council gives the go-ahead for the hotel, Manor Kingdom plans to apply for permission to create a PGA-standard golf course.

Jeremy Purvis, Liberal Democrat MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, said the economic benefit of the development is "potentially very significant".