Green light for £40m hotel development

Plans for a new £40m development at Glenbervie House Hotel near Falkirk, central Scotland, have been approved by the local authority.

The Aurora Hotel Collection has been handed full planning consent for the scheme by officials at Falkirk Council, which aims to generate an additional £15m each year for the local economy. Plans include the development of a new 200-bedroom hotel; a spa; leisure and recreation facilities and a grand ballroom, which will be capable of accommodating more than 1,000 guests for gala dinners.

The ballroom will also be able to be divided into three smaller suites - each equipped with their own facilities, while a new auditorium for 600 guests and 16 smaller meeting rooms are also planned. Facilities at the three-storey Glenbervie Spa will include a 22m (72ft) indoor ozone swimming pool; internal and external roof hydro pools and water facilities; a dry sauna and a wet sauna.

Squash courts, 18 beauty treatment rooms and associated relaxation areas are also proposed for the site, as well as a branded hair salon, a dance studio, a gymnasium and a juice bar. Aurora chief executive Stephen McLeod said: "The entire project will be unlike anything on offer in the Falkirk or Central Scotland area and it will create many local jobs, in addition to attracting people and further investment to the Falkirk area.

"We have been at the planning stage for quite some time now and I have been very patient and listened to the opinions of all interested parties, amending our initial application to reflect the very important comments of our customers and the community." Glenbervie House Hotel - a 12-bedroom former private residence - was acquired by Aurora in 2006 and has already benefited from a £5m overhaul. The group also operates the four-star Airth Castle Hotel and Spa and the new Hotel Colessio - due to open in Stirling in July.