A globally renowned golf club has unveiled major plans to build a brand new driving range, cafe and coach park at a derelict site in a north town.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club will invest a “significant” amount of money into redeveloping a site formerly occupied by an abattoir just off Shore Road.
A section of land has also been earmarked for new student housing, as part of a £44million deal between UHI and specialist student residences developer Cityheart to build more accommodation throughout the Highlands. The flats could be ready for September 2017.
Royal Dornoch’s proposals are likely to go out to public consultation in the first half of 2016, and it is hoped plans will be lodged by the end of the year.
If they get the go ahead, the facilities could open to the public by May 2017.
The site is currently occupied by Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) and the club is due to sign the lease pending a contamination inspection by council officers.
Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, said: “We do see this as a good thing for the club to be doing and we understand our position in the town. We want to help grow the economy as best as we can, and within our business model we hope to do that.
“I can say that it is going to be a significant investment.
“The only thing we have to do is look into the contamination and work with the Highland Council on that and ANM on site. The process is going well and we have all got a very good relationship and are currently trying to progress the legal aspects.”
The club hopes to create a new 16-bay driving range on a field that they own to the rear of the former abattoir site and convert a dilapidated gas works into a cafe and shop selling the club’s merchandise
Parking plans are at an early stage but it is thought there could be up to four coach bays at the site, as during the summer months the Dornoch Square can be very busy with tourists.
New public toilets for the town will also be considered as part of the plans.
East Sutherland councillor Jim McGillivray said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea. It’s a great use of space and starts to make a very positive future for a very defunct corner of the town.
“It’s a great relief to see a future for what is a site of very great potential. It really gives a balance to Dornoch because we started off developing on the west side and then the north, and this is now Dornoch south.”