Knight Frank's planning and development team has been granted planning consent by Scottish Borders Council to create the first five star hotel in the Scottish Borders.

Knight Frank submitted the plans to create a luxurious five star hotel and conference facility in West Linton on behalf of Manor Kingdom Estates.

The new hotel will represent a significant investment for the local economy, creating over 300 new jobs and helping to establish the Scottish Borders as a five star destination. Construction is expected to start onsite in early 2009.

The new hotel, to be known as Rutherford Castle, will be set in 18 acres and will comprise 150 bedrooms, a deluxe spa and leisure club, relaxing cafes, fine dining restaurant, wine cellar, whisky lounge, a grand ballroom and spacious conference rooms. Involving an investment of £50m, this traditionally designed hotel will be developed to sympathetically showcase the magnificent surrounding scenery of the Scottish Borders.

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David Innes, partner, Knight Frank who submitted the planning application, said: "We would like to thank Scottish Borders Council for their input and quick determination of our hotel development proposals. The approval of Rutherford Castle Hotel is a major coup for Manor Kingdom Estates and great news for the Borders. It will create a fantastic new luxury hotel at West Linton which will encourage new tourism to the area and create a significant number of new jobs for the local economy."

David Holmes of Manor Kingdom Estates commented added: "It is a fantastic result for the team and positive news for the development industry in these challenging times. We will be working very closely with our hotel operator to progress the project during 2009. We have met with very talented golf course designers to progress the next stage of the development which is to upgrade the course.

(GK/JM)