The proposals to boost the local economy and address a clear demand for hotel and student accommodation at Abbey Park have been submitted to Fife Council by Robertson. The mixed-use development will incorporate a 90-bed hotel and 100-bed student accommodation, as well as a substantial new park that will be around 3,500 sq m.
“There is a clear demand for a mid-range hotel which will help to encourage people, whether in St Andrews for business or leisure, to visit Fife and help to deliver the Fife Economic Partnership ambition to increase visitor expenditure. Similarly, there are around 4,000 students unable to access dedicated student accommodation and these plans will help to ease demand on private properties and the pressure on rental levels,” said Katherine Mackintosh, managing director at Robertson Property.
“The new landscaped park will be a welcome addition to the town and will be open to all in St Andrews – not just those living in the student accommodation or staying at the hotel. The proposals have been developed following feedback from community consultations we held in October 2017 and June 2018 which have influenced the design and created the opportunity to move the buildings north and create a new green space at the heart of the development. We remain fully committed to engaging with the local community and look forward to providing updates as these plans progress,” she continued.
Robertson is currently pending approval of the planning application, aiming to start work on the site by summer 2019 and having the buildings operational by autumn 2020. The application was submitted on Robertson’s behalf by Barton Willmore, the leading planning and design consultancy.
Established over 40 years ago, Robertson Property has a prime commercial portfolio throughout Scotland and North East England, and has delivered a number of property development deals. The team excels in assembling development deals that are attractive to both building occupiers and investors.