The £30 million proposal, set to foster significant economic investment and potentially create up to 400 jobs in Perth and Kinross, has been submitted to Perth & Kinross Council by the estate’s owners Stellar Murrayshall LLP.

The masterplan application seeks Planning Permission in Principle (PPiP) for a mixed-use development which includes expanding the estate’s four-star hotel, adding a spa and leisure facilities, and introducing outdoor activities accessible to both hotel patrons and the general public. The project further outlines plans for the creation of luxury lodges, cabins, and timeshare/vacation ownership properties.

Additionally, an area of land has been identified for a solar farm which will provide clean green renewable energy, helping the estate decarbonise and reduce running costs.

Plans to diversify the estate were first drawn up by Fergus Purdie Architects in 2020 and a PPiP application was lodged with Perth and Kinross Council in March 2021.

The application was later withdrawn to enable a review of the mix of development to be proposed on the estate which subsequently led to the decision to remove the potential enabling residential development.

Gary Silcock, general manager for Murrayshall Country Estate, said: “Following an extensive consultation, we are delighted to bring forward our revised plans based on the feedback and comments received from the local community.

“This is an exciting time as we progress with our long-term aspirations for the estate which will ultimately help grow and sustain the business for years to come.

“We remain confident that the £30m investment for the diversification of Murrayshall will have a positive effect on the local economy, while securing jobs and creating new employment. We are committed to investing in our staff and have been engaging with UHI Perth to assist in training and development opportunities for employees.

“Through the diversification of the estate, we are hoping to bring in more opportunities to host and support events.

“We look forward to continuing positive engagement with local residents and stakeholders throughout the planning process.”

The developer held two in-person public consultation events at the estate. The first, which took place on 12 December 2022, was to showcase the principles of the development and receive feedback from members of the public on the proposals. The second event, on 31 January 2023, provided responses to the feedback received and the consequential changes made to the development proposals.

Both events were well attended and provided members of the public with the opportunity to view consultation material in person and discuss plans directly with the project team.

The project team also held separate meetings with stakeholders and local residents, including site visits, to further explain the plans.

A project website was also created, allowing locals to have easy access to detailed information on the plans with the option for those interested to share their views via an online feedback form. The project website will remain open until the planning process is concluded.

It is anticipated that a detailed application for phase one of the proposals will be submitted to Perth & Kinross Council in the coming weeks.