Taymouth Castle
Perthshire, Scotland
Taymouth Castle is the most important Scottish Castle in private ownership. Its public rooms are outstanding examples of the opulence and refinement created by the finest architects and craftsmen of the 19th century, including works by Francis Bernasconi who created the magnificent central staircase and Cornelius Dixon who painted many of the ceilings.
Taymouth Castle & Estate was purchased by a large PLC that managed a pension fund that unfortunately went into liquidation prior to the completion of the project. GTS were instrumental in purchasing the site back from the receiver completing the historical renovations to the castle in turn signing off the onerous occupancy conditions associated with the planning approval.
The property was then sold to a billion dollar US property syndicate. GTS and associated companies carried out all renovations on time and budget including the total renovation of the castle making it wind and water tight.
GTS’ role was to secure planning and undertake the conservation, restoration works and re-development of this category A listed castle, and upgrade of the James Braid designed golf course that has been substantially enhanced and lengthened to a PGA Championship level.
Significant but sympathetic planning gains/enabling works were permitted for development of the castle and surrounding estate whilst attracting the highest international architectural and heritage awards in the process. The Taymouth Castle project was awarded ‘Best Commercial Renovation & Re-Development’ at UK and European level and the highest International award for Historic Development.
Perth & Kinross Council received a further commendation at the Scottish Awards For Quality In Planning for the practical hands on approach taken by the local authority and partners to steer a significant and complicated project through the planning system and deliver a quality outcome. Such was the success of the project management approach, the council is now rolling this out to smaller planning applications and the development designers.
On the collapse of the large PLC owners GTS assisted in the repossession of the property and completing the refurbishment to satisfy the stringent occupancy conditions set by the local planning authority and Historic Scotland.
Taymouth Castle Refurbishment Photographs
Library Refurbishment
Library after 18 month repair, clean & gold leaf restoration
Chinese Drawing Room Refurbishment
Repair and renovation of the Cornelius Dixon fire damaged ceiling and the exact replacement of several of the damaged historic silk wall screens
Main Reception Refurbishment
Main reception after 18 month repair, clean & ceiling restoration
Refurbished Banner Hall
Banner Hall after 18 month water ingress wall repair, dry rot floor joist replacement and ceiling restoration.
Main Tower Refurbishment
Francis Bernasconi main tower following 2 year wall and ceiling restoration
Queen Victoria Bedroom Refurbishment
Fabrication of moulds to replace lost original features in Queen Victoria’s bedroom
Typical Suite Renovation
Typical Suite as Finished
Exterior Renovation & Roof Repairs
On-Site Workshop - Windows Renovation
Policy adopted of window refurbishment opposed to replacement with master craftsmen operating on-site within several fully mobile machine workshop containers.
On-Site Workshop - Lintels Renovation
Moulds made for all cornice, lintels & dado rail renovation fabricated on site
Taymouth Estate Site Map
Taymouth Castle
Approved Development Summary
The following is a summary of development that has been approved under various planning consents to restore, convert and extend the ‘A’ listed Taymouth Castle to provide up to 145 castle rooms and suites:
Existing Main Central Tower & West Wing
The following options all involve the restoration and conversion of the castle to form a golf spikes bar, suites, historic reception rooms and ancillary hotel accommodation.
Option 1: Initial consent was granted for 13 hotel suites on the second and third floor of the Main Central Tower and 1 penthouse suite in the West Wing.
Option 2: Consent was obtained for an alternative suite layout on the second and third floor of the Main Central Tower to provide 10 larger sized hotel suites (11 suites in total including the penthouse suite in the West Wing).
Option 3: Consent was approved for alternative suite layouts to provide 20 suites in the Main Central Tower (second & third floors) and 4 suites in the West Wing (first and second floor). The proposals were to replace the previously consented 14 hotel suites (13 in Main Central Tower and penthouse suite in West Wing from option 1) with a total of 24 smaller bedroom suites (20 in the Main Central Tower and 4 in the West Wing including the ‘Victoria Rooms’ conversion). Breakdown as follows:
Main Tower 2nd Floor – The floorplan layouts were re-configured to incorporate 9 independent hotel suites with bedroom and en-suite facilities
Main Tower 3rd Floor – The floorplan layouts were re-configured to incorporate 11 independent hotel suites with bedroom and en-suite facilities.
East Wing
Restoration and conversion of the East Wing to form 52 residential hotel suites and ancillary accommodation including a new build block for 12 suites. An alternative scheme has been drafted to incorporate an additional spa in the East Wing. This scheme would involve replacing 3 of the 52 approved suites with a gymnasium, admin office etc and can be submitted to the council for approval if required.
New North Wing
Construction of new 9500m2 5 storey hotel extension to the north of the East Wing of the existing castle to provide 69 hotel rooms (including 3 residential penthouse suites), swimming pool, spa, associated ancillary accommodation and plant. There was flexibility to change the internal layout to suit alternative schemes including an increase in room keys. A 107 room scheme has already been drafted to be submitted if required.
New Family Spa/restaurant
An additional single storey extension to the east of the new North Wing was approved to provide family pools, spa, gym and restaurant.
Taymouth Estate
Approved Development Summary
Residential Estate Properties
Approval was obtained for 167 new residential estate properties across the estate. This included 160 new build residences and 7 conversions of existing buildings summarised below:
30 estate properties in the Castle Riverside area (26 to the east and 4 to the west of Taymouth Castle). 53 estate properties in the Newhall area (including 2 conversions of the existing Newhall Cottages) . 57 estate properties in the Sawmills and Dairy Byre area (including 4 conversions of the existing Dairy Byre, Sawmill, Harry Dey Cottage & Burnside Cottage). 4 estate properties in the Tom Na Croich area next to the new golf clubhouse. 23 estate properties in the Dairy area (including the conversion of the ‘A’ listed Dairy).
There was also the flexibility to include the 26 Castle Riverside properties east of the castle as hotel inventory. Due to their close location to the castle a scheme was created to reconfigure each one bedroom property into 2 individual 1 bedroom suites adding an additional 52 hotel room keys to the castle room count if required.
Other Estate Development
Approval was also obtained for the following:
A new Golf Clubhouse east of Tom Na Croich
A new Equestrian Centre south of Tom Na Croich
A new Smokehouse Restaurant in the Newhall area
A new Scandinavian Spa in the Newhall area
To convert and extend the B Listed Newhall Kennels to form a further spa /health club
The re-modelling and restoration of the James Braid Golf Course and improved landscaping around the castle
Associated estate roads, pathways, services and site infrastructure including reconstruction of a vehicular bridge across the Taymouth Burn to the west of the east drive.
Support in principal was also obtained within Perth and Kinross Council’s Local Area Plan for the following:
The site within the estate adjacent to Kenmore Village has been identified as suitable for 30 housing units with 25% affordable, remainder low cost and/or midmarket housing or staff accommodation.