A 44-suite extension to the Rusacks Hotel, which overlooks the opening and closing hole of the Old Course in St Andrews, has been given the green light.
The £7m extension to the iconic 128-year-old hotel will also include a rooftop restaurant, bar, terrace and glass-fronted suites.
Gordon Fraser, Macdonald Hotels’ deputy chairman, said: “This is a tremendously positive announcement for our company and for St Andrews, which will give visitors to the town world-class ‘5 Red Star’ accommodation.
“This development will set a new benchmark for luxury in St Andrews, attracting many new visitors every year from all over the world, and bringing new jobs and major benefits to the local economy.
“We’ve owned the Macdonald Rusacks since 2001, and are especially conscious of being custodians of one of golf’s most famous locations, so we will be developing the site with the utmost sensitivity. Many of the world’s most famous golfers have stayed with us when playing the Old Course, and only this summer US Open winner Justin Rose described his suite as ‘the best room in golf’.
Work is due to start on the project next year 2016.