Luxury north coast hotel thrown into doubt by Royal Portrush concerns

Tuesday, 13 February 2018 14:41

By Bob Huggins

By Q Radio news

Hopes that a new luxury hotel on the North Coast will be ready ahead of next year's Open Golf Championship have been thrown into doubt - by the club hosting the tournament.

Royal Portrush has written to Planning Officials with several worries about the proposed Dunluce Resort.

The club says it has worries over storm water volumes and the impact on the environment.

The Luxury Hotel Resort will incorporate conference facilities and spa, guest suites, apartments and villas, associated access, car parking, landscaping and ancillary development which would overlook the course and create up to 250 jobs for the area.

Royal Portrush Golf Club have objected on three matters which are :

Design Sitting & Visual Impact
Residential Development
Storm Water Discharge

Speaking to Q Radio news Maurice Bradley MLA said “Concerns have been raised by Royal Portrush Golf Club and I would share some of those concerns particularly those around increased storm water from such a development and the impact it may have on the environment and perhaps the course itself.

Portrush Golf Course is world famous and a leading player in the Golf Tourism market and are also keen supporters of inward investment in the area in anticipation of the Open Championship being hosted by the club in 2019.

The club is also unhappy about the design, siting and visual impact and residential development along with storm water concerns.

I would urge a meeting or meetings between the applicants Causeway Coast Developments Ltd, and Portrush Golf Club to see is there is a common ground which would allow the application to proceed.

I’m a great believer in talks and compromise, so perhaps a meeting of minds may be able to set at ease many of the concerns raised by Royal Portrush Golf Club in their objection to the application. However it is not just Royal Portrush Golf Club who have concerns, my office has been contacted in regards to overlooking and the siting of residential units as well.

I would hope for a solution as inward investment and job creation are vital for the tourist industry of which this area so heavily depends.”

The club in its objection said that as a major land owner in the area, that they consider it has a duty to ensure long term preservation and enhancement of the surrounding environment.

Those behind the proposal from Causeway Coast Developments Ltd hope it will be ready by the time The Open golf championship returns to the course in 2019".