STAYCATION AND OUR TOURISM SUCCESSES - GROWING THE OFFER ON THE CAUSEWAY COAST

from Clyde Shanks News - AUTUMN 2020

PLANNING COMMITTEE GOES VIRTUAL

An important legacy of the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush golf club has inevitably been a fuelled interest in reinforcing and extending the tourism accommodation offer across the Causeway Coast.

We have secured planning permission for new holiday parks in Ballycastle and Portrush and are advising on new and extended accommodation offer in established holiday parks in Portstewart and on the outskirts of Bushmills.

Securing approval for new holiday parks at Clare Park, Ballycastle and at Loguestown, Portrush will offer static, touring and glamping accommodation and bring much needed supply and reinforcement of the local domestic tourism accommodation offer to boost the staycation market and help to sustain local businesses as international travel takes time to recover post Covid.

We are continuing to work hard to make progress with a luxury 5 star golf lodge/hotel on a unique and highly mature landscaped 9 acre site adjacent to and overlooking Royal Portrush’s Dunluce links for US based clients.

A highly collaborative and engaging public consultation exercise was completed prior to Christmas and an application for full planning permission for a 35 suite lodge and annex including spa was made to Causeway Coast and Glens in June.

The design is very focused on offering the highest quality ‘home from home’ experience demanded by high spending US golfers drawn to Royal Portrush and it is anticipated that it will greatly extend dwell time in the area with substantial improvement in the level of tourism spend retained within the Causeway Coast and Glens area as visitors choose to stay in the area for longer.

It is anticipated that visitor spend will generate some £8.7m-£9.7m, a much needed boost to the economy. On basis of planning permission secured in early 2021 the first guests should be on site in Spring 2023.