Outline planning permission has been granted for a new golf course to be built on a site outside the Scottish town of Ayr.

No architect has yet been named for the course, which is part of a large-scale redevelopment proposed for the Auchincruive Estate, a 600 acre property that currently houses the Scottish Agricultural College, which would relocate most of its activities to a new campus in Ayr under the plans. The proposal also calls for a new village of 495 homes, a hotel and conference centre and an equestrian centre to be built on the site. But the local branch of the National Farmers’ Union has pointed out that only the housing component of the development is likely to go ahead in the present economic situation, and called for the scheme to be dropped.

The eighteenth century Oswald Hall would be converted into a luxury hotel under the scheme, being backed by development company AWG Properties. South Ayrshire Council has given outline planning consent to the proposals.