UP to 200 jobs could be created in West Linton after a luxury holiday park firm announced its takeover of Rutherford Castle golf club.

Richmond Wight Estates, who have developed parks in Perthshire, Morayshire and Dumfries and Galloway, want to turn the former course into an up-market holiday park.

The 200-acre site will feature up to 300 luxury lodges, a restaurant, a dry ski slope, an equestrian centre, leisure centre, and farm shop as well as retaining nine holes of the golf course.

Chek Whyte, managing director of Richmond Wight Estates, told the Peeblesshire News: “We are very pleased to have concluded this deal to buy the land here at Rutherford Castle and expand our leisure portfolio in a fantastic location well placed for both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

"We are currently in discussion with local council planners regarding our plans for the site.

We feel that a full leisure and holiday residential offer of the type we plan to create will be well received by out target market sectors, creating a viable use for this land.

"We estimate that the project will create around 100 full time jobs and another 100 part time jobs when completed."

Rutherford Castle golf course was established by local farmer Henry Wallace in the late 1990s.

The course, clubhouse and surrounding land was sold to developers Manor Kingdom in 2003.

And a couple of years later they announced plans for 150-bedroom luxury five-star hotel, which was granted planning permission.

It was reported at the time that hotel chain De Vere were to operate the hotel.

But the plans never came to fruition.

And last year the Rutherford Castle golf course eventually closed after falling memberships.

Mr Whyte outlined that the owners of Rutherford Castle, the housebuilder Bett Homes, had been financially supporting the club, which had been running at a loss with just 56 members in 2014, for some time.

He added: “We recognise and appreciate that the club owners had tried to keep the business going.

"We know that many golf cubs north and south of the Border were severely affected by the last recession, and are still suffering the after effects.

"We hope that former club members can still enjoy their golf at nearby West Linton which is a very strong, well run club with an excellent reputation.

“We are delighted to cross promote one another in this venture.

“We thank West Linton Golf Club for their support and look forward to building a positive working relationship in the coming months which will be mutually beneficial to both parties.”

Richmond Wight Estates operates a business model where value is put back into bankrupt sites.

The Nottingham based firm has successfully applied this principle to a number of parks in Scotland, including Silversands at Lossiemouth which was brought up to a five star standard with a new swimming pool and leisure centre, and then sold.

Last year Richmond Wight purchased Moffat Manor Country Park at Beattock, another formerly bankrupt site which is now the subject of huge investment.

And millions have been pumped into Glendevon Country Park and Riverview, Forres.

The company frequently ties up with many industry leading names including Hoseasons to manage its holiday lettings business and McEwan Fraser Legal to assist with residential lodge sales.

A planning application for the lodge park is expected to be tabled with Scottish Borders Council later this year.