Planning permission has been granted for the refurbishment and extension of The Scores Hotel at St Andrews as part of a joint venture between Links Collection Capital and investment company, Wirefox, who purchased the historic property last year.
Fife Council’s planning officers approved the application, and the work will now commence to reconfigure the hotel’s existing rooms and add a five-storey extension at the rear to create a 5* luxury hotel with 51 rooms.
The scheme, designed by TODD Architects, will see bedroom floors in the existing terrace reconfigured to increase room sizes in keeping with 5-star requirements and “better benefit” from the views over The Old Course and North Sea Coastline.
Meanwhile, the ground floor will contain space for a new destination restaurant and a flexible multi-purpose area for small weddings or it can be reconfigured into rooms of differing sizes for corporate bookings.
Additionally, it includes the creation of a new stone and glass entrance, reconfigured to contain a staircase to an upper bar and restaurant.
The Scores Hotel is a historic property located a few yards from the first tee at the Old Course, overlooking the Royal and Ancient Golf Clubhouse and North Sea coastline.
Andrew Murray, director at TODD Architects, said: “Whilst a truly special hotel, it has been subject to a series of unsympathetic and piecemeal changes and additions, leading to many of the lovely Victorian spaces being carved up into awkward shapes with difficult access and many level changes.
“The hierarchy of spaces, dramatic settings and potentially amazing views have been lost. Our aim is to bring it back to its full potential, respecting the existing fabric whilst making sure our contemporary additions sit gracefully within the hotel grounds and the wider conservation area.”
Joanne McBurney, development director at Wirefox, added: “We welcome the positive decision taken by planners at Fife Council and we are delighted to be able to realise our aim to create a world-class facility to complement the existing offer in St Andrews and the site’s location overlooking golf’s most famous course.”
