Developer wins bid to convert historic St Andrews landmark

AN ICONIC building hailed as having one of the finest views in world golf has been saved from crumbling into disrepair after councillors backed a £35 million refurbishment programme.

• Herb Kohler

Fife Council yesterday approved the multi-million-pound bid by American billionaire Herb Kohler's company to convert Hamilton Hall, which overlooks the 18th green of the historic Old Course in St Andrews, into luxury flats.

The landmark Victorian red sandstone building, built in 1895 as the Grand Hotel, has formed the backdrop to some of golf's most memorable moments.

Hamilton Hall, which also featured in the film Chariots of Fire, was bought from St Andrews University by an American real estate firm in 2004 for a reputed 22m.

But the former student residence has been lying empty ever since and it fell into a state of disrepair after plans by US property tycoon David Wasserman failed to come to fruition.

It was saved last year when Old Course Ltd, owned by plumbing magnate Kohler, purchased the property for 11.5m.

Old Course Ltd, which also owns the Old Course Hotel and Dukes Course, has now had its plans to convert the building into luxury flats approved.

Contractors will soon be able to move in and begin its conversion into an upmarket complex to be known as the Hamilton Grand. The firm was unable to give a start and completion date for the project.

The B-listed building had been put back on the market by Mr Wasserman, after his vision for luxury timeshare apartments failed to materialise.

While the six-storey property deteriorated, there were worries about such a prominent structure being left to fall into a state of disrepair.

On Wednesday, planners told councillors that the Hamilton Grand proposal for 26 apartments and a public bar and restaurant was an opportunity to secure a long-term, economically-viable solution for the building.

Fife Council planner Alistair Hamilton said: "The proposal offers an opportunity to ensure a long-term solution for this iconic building which is economically viable and also secures a use which is tied to an existing local business."The apartments will operate as an extension to the Old Course Hotel, sold on long-term leases but let for holiday accommodation when empty.

The project will see the restoration of one of the building's domes which was destroyed by fire in the 1970s and replaced with a plastic dome.

Important historic details are to be restored, including the timber staircase which has already been reinstalled, stained glass windows being restored off-site, and plasterwork.

A roof extension is also to be created, with an external terrace, and the east wing demolished.

A spokeswoman for Old Course Ltd said: "We're looking forward to starting construction on what is such an iconic Scottish building."