Murray's luxury housing tees off
David Murray, the chairman of Rangers, has won a lengthy battle to build luxury homes on greenbelt land near a fledgling £5m golf club he owns.
Although the course was completed about four years ago, the multi-millionaire refused to open Torrance Park until a proposal for housing on the Lanarkshire site received planning permission.
The Scottish Executive has given the housing at Newhouse the go-ahead.
Yesterday's decision is expected to allow the first ball to finally be hit in earnest at the US PGA-standard course, which was designed by Sam Torrance, the Ryder Cup-winning golfer.
New Brannock Limited, a joint venture company set up by Mr Murray and Graham Gillespie, a Lanarkshire businessman, originally applied for planning permission in 1994.
But the project drew objections from archaeologists and environmental campaigners and Mr Murray threatened to abandon the course if the housing element was not approved.
In February, North Lanarkshire Council agreed to allow 180 homes to be built on the former opencast mine, which is just off the M8 motorway, but the executive had the final say because it was contrary to greenbelt policy.
Mr Murray yesterday ex-pressed relief that the 10-year battle to open the course had come to a satisfactory end. He said: "Naturally, I am delighted the housing has been given the go-ahead. I am delighted we can now progress towards the development of the golf course and the construction of high-quality homes in the area, and I expect there will be further investment as well as the creation of around 200 jobs.
"We have had to remain very patient through the whole process but now certainly plan to move things forward."
In 1998, the steel magnate announced fresh plans to transform the former 400-acre site into a country club, hotel, golf and sports complex. However, the original planning application was refused by the executive as it was contrary to the area's development plan.
James Coyle, a local councillor who has been supportive of the scheme throughout its various stages, added: "I am absolutely delighted this approval has been given by the Scottish Executive and we will at last see the golf course and new quality housing in the area."
However, the West of Scotland Archaeology Service objected to the plans because they said the land "contains a range of sites of archaeological significance as well as two settlement sites".
Scottish Natural Heritage and local community groups in Lanarkshire said the development would pose a serious threat to wildlife in the area.
David Porch, North Lanarkshire Council's planning director, also made a last-ditch plea to councillors to reject the development.
Torrance Park could attract some of Mr Murray's well-known friends and enthusiasts of the game, including Sir Sean Connery, along with Rangers' footballers keen to pace the fairways during their afternoons off.
Last year, some enterprising golf fans, ruing the fact the course was being underused, took it upon themselves to practise their game free of charge at Torrance Park.
The granting of permission for the golf course comes just weeks after Mr Murray fulfilled another of his ambitions by buying a vineyard.
He snapped up the lush 800-acre Chateau Routas estate in the south of France for £6m after falling in love with it during a vacation last year.
The Herald, 7th May 2005
