Five-star hotel project on the cards for Scottish borders

A joint-planning application has been submitted to the Scottish Borders Council led by De Vere in a bid to create the first five-star hotel in the Scottish Borders.

De Vere's development partner for the project, UK-based Manor Kingdom Estates, plans to invest £50m to create a luxurious hotel and conference facility in West Linton if the application is successful.

The new 150-bedroom hotel, to be known as Rutherford Castle, will be set in 18 acres and will comprise a deluxe spa and leisure club, cafés, a fine-dining restaurant, wine cellar, whisky lounge, a ballroom and conference rooms.

Hotel operator De Vere already runs nearby Barony Castle and the five-star Cameron House by Loch Lomond.

Property agents Knight Frank and Manor Kingdom Estates are now liaising with local community representatives and working with the council to provide the necessary detail that will allow a decision during 2008.

If planning consent is granted then development is planned to commence later this year.

Mark Cummings, spokesman for Manor Kingdom Estates, said: "We believe our hotel will represent what the Scottish Borders aspires to offer its locals and its visitors, over and above the mainstream available in Central Scotland and as such we hope that our plans will be welcomed by the local community and the council."

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By Gemma Sharkey

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