Murray plans to bulldoze mansion

Published on Wednesday 20 October 2004 14:28

• Millionaire wants to build new home

• Rangers chief plans orangery

• Vision ‘in keeping with street’s style’

MULTI-MILLIONAIRE Rangers chairman David Murray wants to bulldoze his 2 million Edinburgh home and replace it with an art deco mansion.

Mr Murray, who made his fortune from metal companies, has submitted his plans to the city council for his home overlooking Murrayfield Golf Course.

The new home, which would be built on the foundations of the original building, would include an orangery, a six-metre swimming pool and indoor spa, and an open air terrace.

It would also feature a wine cellar with built-in wine cooler.

There would be four large en suite bedrooms, with "fewer, but more spacious apartments" than the existing house. The upper floor will centre around the orangery, with a view over the golf course.

The new property, on a private road in Murrayfield, known as Millionaire’s Row, would be designed by Mr Murray’s architect neighbour, Gareth Hutchison.

It would feature smooth, white walls with steel-framed windows, while the plush interior would have contrasting dark wood finishes.

The master bedroom suite features a "snug" with an open fire in the centre of the room, a bedroom of 18 square metres, a dressing room, a private terrace and an en suite bathroom with a steam shower.

Outside, landscaped lawns will sweep down the sides of the property.

A neighbouring house on the street sold for 2.3m last year - the first property in Edinburgh to sell for more than 2m.

The description of the house submitted in the plans, which were first presented to the council in August, claims the new style will fit in with neighbouring properties.

It said: "The existing 80s design is replaced by a contemporary house in the art deco design aesthetic . . . in addition, the art deco design is contemporary with the original development of the street, with some of the more significant existing properties being in that style."

Mr Murray, who also has an estate in Perthshire and a retreat in the south of France, has lived in his house for around 20 years.

The Rangers boss, one of Scotland’s wealthiest tycoons, who sold his Jersey home last year after putting a price tag of 4.35 million on it, is thought to have a fortune of around 300m.

He owned the island villa in St Brelade for 15 years, clinching big-money deals from his hideaway.

He put the house up for sale after buying his luxury holiday home in the South of France two years ago.

Mr Murray also paid 2.75m for two adjoining townhouses in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square, next door to his business headquarters.

His neighbours in Murrayfield include Miller Homes boss Keith Miller, who last year bought a 1.2m luxury penthouse apartment on the street, despite it being built by rival company AMA.

The council will decide whether to give the plans the go-ahead in the next couple of weeks.