Plans for the first £50m five-star hotel in the Scottish borders, in West Linton, Peniculk, have been given the green light.

Rutherford Castle Hotel will be built near the Rutherford Castle Golf Club, a par 72 championship course, on 18 acres of landscape ground and will feature 150 bedrooms to be operated by De Vere. The plans were submitted to the Scottish Border Council by property agency Knight Frank, on behalf of UK-based developer Manor Kingdom Estates.

The hotel, which will be operated by De Vere, will also feature a spa and leisure club, cafés, a 'whisky lounge', a ballroom and conference facilities, all of which will be available to the public as well as hotel residents. Councillor Vicky Davidson, executive member for Economic Development, said: "This is exactly the kind of investment we need. Not only will the hotel and conference centre create up to 300 jobs in the West Linton are, but will be a major boost to tourism."

Mark Cummings, a spokesperson for Manor Kingdom Estates, said: "We believe our hotel will represent what the Scottish Borders aspire to offer its locals and visitors, over and above the mainstream available in Central Scotland and as such we hope that our plans will be welcomed by the local community and the council." Construction is due to begin early 2009 and trading is expected to commence in 2010.