| Donald Trump golf resort gets go ahead |
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| Wednesday, 21 November 2007 | |
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American property tycoon Donald Trump has been given the go ahead to build a £1bn golf resort and complex in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, despite environmental protests. Aberdeenshire Council's Formartine area committee approved the application by Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, by seven votes to four, in a meeting last night. The development, which Trump says will be the "greatest golf course in the world”, is to be built on a 1,400-acre site, near Balmedia. It will include two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel, a golf academy, nearly 1,000 holiday homes and 500 private houses. However the plans have faced some controversy as part of the complex would be built on a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Some environmentalists fear the resort could destroy rare plant species and delicate sand dune systems. However supporters of the plans say it will inject £60 million into the Scottish economy, boost tourism and create 6,000 jobs. The proposed resort is the culmination of four years of work by the Trump team. The application will now go before the council's infrastructure services committee, which meets next week.Final approval then lies with the Scottish Government.
It is expected the golf courses will open by spring 2009, with the resort completed by 2012. |
