Work to start on £1bn Trump resort

Councillors clear way for earthworks and grass planting at north-east golf course

By Alistair Beaton

Published:

US tycoon Donald Trump will finally start building his £1billion golf resort today – three years after the Press and Journal revealed he wanted to create the “world’s greatest course” in the north-east.

Councillors cleared the way yesterday for preparatory earthworks and marram grass planting to start at the Menie Estate at Balmedie

The New York businessman’s son, Donald jun, was at Ellon to see members of the local authority’s Formartine area committee back a planning application for the first phase of the project.

He said Trump International was determined to proceed with the development despite the threat if legal action by protesters and revealed work would start today, earlier than planned.

Mr Trump jun added: “For a golf course, there are no dunes and no land as large and magnificent anywhere in the world.

“I want to thank Aberdeenshire Council, the business community and residents of Aberdeenshire for their ongoing support.”

The news was welcomed by Scottish Enterprise chief executive Jack Perry, who said the agency valued the commitment being shown by Trump International.

“This type of new resort development will deliver modern, high-quality accommodation and facilities to Scotland,” he said.

“This is critical to our ambition to help Scotland realise more value from tourism.

“The development will attract higher-spending visitors from across the UK and overseas, and will further support Scotland’s position as the home of golf.”

Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Robert Collier said it was reassuring to see the project going ahead, despite the current downturn in the global economy.

“It gives the international message that Aberdeen is open to business,” he added.

VisitScotland chief executive Philip Riddle said: “Whilst this is a private development, and VisitScotland did not have a role in the planning process, we recognise the significant economic impact it will have on the north-east and the wider Scottish economy.”

Formartine area committee supported a recommendation from planners to approve the groundwork at Menie.

Ellon and District councillor Debra Storr had proposed deferring the issue and suggested a hearing should be held on the application first.

But council planning director Christine Gore said that would be unnecessary as the proposal was not a significant departure from the development blueprint for the site.

Ms Storr and Belhelvie and Mid-Formartine councillor Paul Johnston, who are both long-time critics of the council’s handling of the application, refused to take part when fellow Mid-Formartine councillor and committee chairman John Loveday moved an amendment to debate the issue and other councillors ruled in favour of granting permission.

Following the meeting, Tripping Up Trump protest group spokesman Martin Glegg said opponents of the resort would be taking legal advice about the decision.

A detailed masterplan for the Menie Estate golf resort is expected to be submitted to the council early next year.

The project, involving two golf courses, a 450-bedroom hotel, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses, was approved in principle by the Scottish Government in November.

A year earlier, the huge project seemed to have been lost to the north-east after the council’s infrastructure services committee rejected initial proposals for the golf resort on the casting vote of its then-chairman, East Garioch councillor Martin Ford.

Mr Ford was subsequently sacked from his post and the matter went to a public local inquiry.