A £6m plan to bring back from the dead a Scots castle which inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula has suffered a setback following the resignation of its architect.

Douglas Forrest, who was to have overseen the transformation of Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire into holiday apartments, has quit the project claiming he is owed money by the developer.

Perched on rugged cliffs overlooking the North Sea, the castle is said to have provided the inspiration for Dracula’s Transylvannian fortress. Stoker is reputed to have written at least part of his gothic classic in 1895 while staying at Crooked Lum cottage, his holiday home at Cruden Bay, a short distance from the clifftop keep.

However, the castle has lain derelict since being sold by the 20th Earl of Errol to pay death duties.

Last year Aberdeen councillors approved an application from the Slains Partnership, a local developer, to turn the ruined castle to be turned into 35 holiday chalets despite 100 objections from locals, who claimed the ruins are a major tourist attraction.

Commenting on his decision to quit the project, Forrest said: “Regrettably we have had to suspend our architectural services with the Slains Partnership because of non-payment of fees. Our confidence has gone that the Slains Partnership can carry out this project.

“The Slains Partnership keeps issuing statements saying things are going well, but it is very clear to anyone who has been involved in this project that they are not. It is very sad because the future of an important and historic building is at stake.”

His comments were backed up by Alan Ross, director of the Aberdeen-based structural engineering firm Cameron & Ross, which has suspended work on the project.

“We have been paid in dribs and drabs by the Slains Partnership and it does appear that they have financial difficulties,” he said.

Last night the Slains Partnership admitted there had been “issues, problems and delays”, but insisted the project will go ahead. Nicholas Hamilton, a consultant for the firm, said: “The project is still very much going ahead. Absolutely everything is fine, we have just had some undue delays and technical problems.”

When asked about claims that bills had not been paid, Hamilton said the director responsible for the project’s finances was out of the country.

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