Golf complex hits rough over heathland turf

SCOTLAND'S heritage watchdog has halted construction of a billionaire Arab sheikh's golf course in Perthshire.

Maher al-Tajir, one of the richest people living in Britain, is planning a vast "millionaire's playground" at Gleneagles.

But his development company, Ochil Developments (UK) Ltd has been forced to stop removing heathland turf from nearby farmland to use at the new golf course, after Scottish Natural Heritage flagged up that the works were unauthorised. Progress on the G-West golf course – the jewel in the crown of the 500 million luxury resort sprawling across 650 acres – could be severely handicapped and its opening delayed unless Perth and Kinross Council gives the turf project the nod.

A SNH spokeswoman said the lowland heather moorland was classified as "biodiversity action plan habitat" and that work was subject to planning permission.

Now, Ochil Developments has lodged a planning application seeking approval to transfer 4,856 square metres of dry heath and heather from the farm to the nearby G-West course.

The developer estimates the removal of turf to the golf course will take a month, with full restoration of the farm donor site completed in two and half years.

Ochil's planning and development consultant, Iain Gotts Associates, has written to the council insisting the operation must be done during winter.

The consultant said: "The applicants are very hopeful that permission will be secured soon enough to complete the 'translocation' works before the conclusion of this winter, otherwise considerable delay could have knock-on effects relative to the date of opening the G-West golf course".

Meanwhile, the local authority has ruled that before turf works can recommence, Ochil must secure agreement with SNH.

A spokeswoman for SNH said: "There shouldn't be a problem if it is done properly and the developers are, we think, already working on plans to restore the habitat afterwards."

The G-West complex consists of a six-star 180-bedroom hotel – intended to outshine Gleneagles – an 18-hole championship golf course and about 250 houses, with prices from 500,000 to 3m.