‘It is actually a ghost city’: Locals concern Scottish village is changing into a ‘playground’ for American billionaires

There are fears a peaceable Perthshire village is changing into a “ghost town” for locals who declare American billionaires are taking up to create a “playground” for the super-rich.

Kenmore sits on the banks of the beautiful River Tay and is house to about 100 residents.

Neighbouring Taymouth Castle, in-built 1842, and its huge swaths of land have been purchased up by an Arizona-based enterprise which boasts of remodeling the realm into a luxurious resort for the mega-wealthy.

Investors Discovery Land Company (DLC) – which claims to be some of the unique residential actual property growth corporations on the earth – has additionally snapped up and subsequently closed the native lodge and put up workplace.

The overseas enterprise empire has additionally purchased a number of properties as considerations mount that the realm is changing into “hoarded by the elite”.

It has been reported DLC’s shoppers embrace billionaires, CEOs, presidents and celebrities.

A current gross sales brochure from the US agency prompt the plans would come with “a community including 208 residential units and club suites” and is barely “30 minutes by helicopter” to Scotland’s main cities.

The fort restoration challenge was given planning permission by Perth and Kinross Council in 2011.

Locals recommend their environment are being strangled and have mounted a petition to “fight back”.

Campaigner Rob Jamieson advised Sky News: “In their other developments their homes range from £3m to £50m. They are going to try and close this all off. They don’t want the great unwashed walking past their high-end homes.

“None of us will ever set foot in it until we need to tug a furlong. It is the whole lot {that a} wealthy individual might ever need however they by no means have to depart the confines of that property. They aren’t going to be going out for tea and scones to the native tearoom.

“It is abhorrence to those of us who live around here.”

DLC rejected quite a few Sky News interview requests however insisted all laws had been being adopted, together with Scottish laws giving the general public the appropriate to roam on paths surrounding the historic fort.

A spokeswoman didn’t deny options the realm will grow to be a gated neighborhood.

The firm web site states the golf course and facilities can be “reserved” for the homeowners.

Read extra:
New attraction near Loch Ness is first of its kind in the world
Highlands Rewilding set to buy estate after £10m crowdfunding appeal

Ingrid Sheilds, from the native protest group, stated: “People have questions about what the future plans are.

“They personal the Kenmore lodge; they personal virtually all these cottages right here. A whole lot of the occasions whenever you come right here it’s actually like a ghost city. There is nobody right here.

“Restaurants are closed down and even the public toilets. Kenmore, as the village as it once was, has really been transformed.”

DLC officers stated “hundreds of people” have already been employed they usually imagine that can be “sustained for years to come”.

Peter Ely’s home seems to be on to the unique resort and broadly helps what it should ultimately grow to be.

The local people council chairman stated: “The castle has been in disrepair for 40 years. Steps are being taken to convert Kenmore back to a sustainable village.

“Over the final 20 years there was a 20% drop in residential folks dwelling right here. Since these guys have taken over and purchased up all of the spare vacation lodges, [the] neighborhood is benefiting to the extent that the village is once more starting to develop.

“It will not be a closed community. I suspect they’ll be using local facilities.”

The American buyers claimed they had been “working hard to reopen the community’s village shop and hotel”.

It is unclear when the challenge can be accomplished.