Plans have been submitted to build a new hotel and student accommodation in St Andrews in a project which would represent an investment of £23 million into the town.

Robertson has submitted a planning application to Fife Council for the site at Abbey Park which aims to boost the local economy and address a clear and identified demand for hotel and student accommodation.

In addition to a 90-bed hotel and 100-bed student accommodation, the mixed-use development will also incorporate a substantial new park which will be around 3,500 sq.m. – similar in scale to St Mary’s Quad.

Katherine Mackintosh, managing director, Robertson Property, said: “The submission of the planning application is a significant milestone and moves us a step closer to delivering on the ambitions laid out in the council’s FIFEplan. 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.

“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 has 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.”

Robertson is finalising legal agreements with operators for both the hotel and student accommodation and expects to make an announcement regarding the operators in due course.

Pending approval of the planning application, Robertson aims to begin work on the site by summer 2019 with the buildings operational by autumn 2020. The application was submitted on Robertson’s behalf by planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore.

Stuart Bishop, architecture director, Barton Willmore, said: “The proposal has been designed to provide a distinctive mixed-use development in an elegant, responsive and contemporary style, forming a backdrop to a new park set at the heart of the St Leonards area.”