PLANNING permission has been granted by Fife Council to transform the former Grand Hotel on the Scores, currently the University’s Hamilton Hall residence, into twenty-five holiday timeshares. The decision was made by the East Area Development Committee of the Council despite the strong concerns over traffic and parking considerations as well as complaints raised by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club across the street.

Wasserman Real Estate of Providence, Rhode Island in the United States have agreed to purchase the hall of residence from the University and transform it into a private club with leisure, catering, and conference facilities as well as the twenty-five “holiday apartments”.

The Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council have objected to the scheme on the grounds that no further parking will be provided and questioning how further construction will alter the roof of the landmark structure, thus changing the world famous skyline it provides.

The St Andrews Preservation Trust also registered its official objections and a representative from the Scores Hotel next door to Hamilton Hall also complained about the development.

Fife Council planner Grant Baxter countered the objections by stating that transportation officials have studied the situation and determined it as acceptable, one official claiming that sufficient parking is located nearby. Mr. Baxter also emphasized that the firm developing the building would be required to devise a suitable traffic management scheme during construction to ensure that pedestrian and vehicular access remained acceptable as well as to keep congestion to a minimum. It is unknown when construction is expected to begin.