January 13 2014

A £7m proposal to erect a 65 bedroom Premier Inn hotel and adjoining 939sq/m Marks & Spencer store on the site of a former abbatoir in St Andrews has been given the go-ahead from planners.

Construction firm Ashleigh and Michael laird Architects submitted plans for the Largo Road site to Fife Council last July and will commence demolition works ‘very soon’ now that consents are in place.

Designed to reinforce the street edge the proposals incorporate a ground floor restaurant and fully glazed shop windows with an area of hard landscaping and tree planting linking both buildings.

Clad in light brick with a dark ceramic entrance the hotel is designed to blend with an adjacent glazed and ceramic tile clad retail pavilion.

Ged Hainey of Ryden, who prepared the planning application said: “The current occupier has confirmed that they will be closing and the existing buildings are now  obsolete and are not suitable for conversion. The only realistic option is to demolish the existing  buildings and redevelop the site.

“The existing industrial use is incompatible with the adjacent houses and other commercial uses which have been built around the site. Redevelopment for retail and hotel purposes would significantly improve the environment by firstly, removing an unattractive industrial building and incompatible use. Secondly, the proposal will provide more jobs for St Andrews, a quality, design led development and improved retail choice whilst supporting tourism.”

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