On Monday, a spokesperson for the Murray Play Foundation charity said the Park of Keir project near Dunblane was no longer viable in its current form. The charity said “significant increases in construction, material, energy and labour costs, a lengthy and uncertain planning process, and protracted discussions with governing bodies” were among the factors leading to the move. READ MORE: Green MSP against plans to build Andy Murray legacy tennis centre It had been hoped that the centre would serve as part of Andy Murray's legacy after its completion, by providing communities with greater access to sports.
But it had been a controversial development, with local campaigners resisting the plan to locate the centre on greenbelt land and include luxury housing within the project. Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell, who has long opposed the Park of Keir development, said he was "proud" of the local community for fighting the project. He added that he hopes SportScotland delivers projects across Scotland to help extend Andy's legacy to those from an array of backgrounds.
(Image: PA) "I am proud the local community has stood up and protected Park of Keir," the MSP said. "This area is the jewel in the crown of our greenbelt that stretches from Dunblane to Bridge of Allan, and it’s important that landscape has been saved. “At the heart of this project was an exclusive luxury housing development that would have been damaging to the local landscape and would have eroded ancient wood.