An upgrade of Kingfisher Country Estate in Templepatrick, potentially costing up to £20 million, has been given the go-ahead by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee.
Paddy Kearney’s hospitality subsidiary Loughview Leisure bought the Co Antrim resort, which includes a 220-acre golf course and estate, in August 2021.
The venue later adopted Hilton’s premier DoubleTree brand for the hotel at Paradise Walk.
The group’s plans include 68 new suites and an expansion of the ground floor function room and conservatory.
Loughview is also planning 21 shepherds’ huts, log cabins and glamping pods, alongside a manager’s lodge and 304 additional car parking spaces.
Speaking at Monday evening’s planning meeting, Mr Kearney said that the council had been “very supportive” of the redevelopment which has cost £14m, to date, for a “total refurbishment” of rooms, restaurant and golf course.
“We want to mimic Gleneagles in Scotland,” said the applicant.
”There is no reason why Northern Ireland can’t have a destination like Gleneagles.”
He went on to say that the proposed extension represents the second phase of the redevelopment, which he indicated, is expected to cost between £14m to £20m, will create 120 jobs on completion and up to 50 construction jobs.
“We are looking forward to getting on with it,” he added.
A planning officer told Monday’s committee meeting that the design of the proposed four-storey extension is “reflective of the existing hotel”.
She added that the proposed hotel extension, shepherds’ huts and cabins are considered to be of “an acceptable design appropriate to the site”, adding that the scale of the proposed manager’s dwelling, a detached two-storey building, is also “acceptable”.
A report to the committee said that a “glazed link will extend from the extension, connecting to the proposed sun room and from this to the existing hotel building”.
Planning agent Stephen Blaney said: “Considerable investment has been made in the infrastructure of this hotel already.
“All we need are more tourists attracted to an enhanced offering. This is what a 68-suite extension will provide.”
He went on to say that there are “no significant neighbourhood amenity concerns, parking or road concerns, ecological or archaeological concerns”.
In response to a query from Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster, Mr Blaney indicated that the company will be working with NI Water to “get a solution to sewerage issues in Templepatrick”.
Alliance Councillor Billy Webb MBE asked if a condition for the manager’s dwelling could include the manager’s family.
Threemilewater Alliance councillor Alderman Tom Campbell moved the recommendation to grant planning permission, seconded by Cllr Webb.
Following a vote, the application was approved unanimously.
