A property acquisition and development firm has added to its leisure portfolio by purchasing a 200 acre golf course in Scotland.

Richmond Wight Estates bought the site at Rutherford Castle in West Linton, 18 miles south of Edinburgh after it was placed into administration.

It is planning to create a luxury lodge development with houses priced from £75,000 to £500,000, and is currently in talks with local planners about the project.

The site already has planning permission to build a 150-bedroom hotel, but Chek Whyte, Managing Director, believes this would be the wrong move.

He said: “We feel that the market is not right for this at the moment, but that a full leisure and holiday residential offer of the type we plan to create, will be well received by our target market sectors, creating a viable use for this land.”

“It will make a wonderful location for our luxury lodge and leisure development, bringing new visitors to the area to enjoy this part of Scotland.”

The lodge development will offer a restaurant clubhouse, spa, swimming pool, farm and equestrian centre.

Nine holes of the existing 18 hole golf course will be retained for lodge residents.

Richmond Wight Estates specialises in purchasing residential and holiday parks from businesses that are in financial distress and need a quick sale.