TYCOON RESTORING NORTH-EAST PROPERTY TO ORIGINAL GLORY
Trump to turn Menie House into own home
Published:
US tycoon Donald Trump revealed plans last night to refurbish a historic north-east country house and make it his family home in Scotland.
The property magnate also named the team of companies that will design and build his £1billion golf resort in Aberdeenshire.
Menie House – which is on Menie Estate, the site for his golf development – will undergo months of refurbishment to restore the 14th-century property to its original condition. Nearby Menie Park Lodge will also be renovated.
Mr Trump will be working closely with the team overseeing the renovations so his new home “reflects the levels of excellence” of his other properties around the world.
Commenting on the restoration of Menie House and Menie Park Lodge, Mr Trump’s right-hand man, George Sorial, said last night: “It is going to be an extensive job – Menie House will be completely refurbished throughout its interior.
“We are being very careful to restore the house back to its original grandeur. It will be as beautiful as it was when it was first built.
“We have very talented people working on the project, and that will give us a fantastic end product.”
Mr Sorial would not put a figure on the project apart from saying it was a “significant” amount.
Aberdeenshire businesses Interiors Unlimited of Inverurie, Fraser’s of Ellon and McLaren and Company have been brought in to carry out the work.
Bon Accord Granite, CB Joinery Services and Ecosse Contract Services are also involved in the refurbishment.
Menie House, at Balmedie, was formerly used for package holidays centred on country pursuits before its sale, with the Menie Estate, to the Trump Organisation.
While Mr Trump and his family will have use of the historic property, Menie Park Lodge will be used to house executive suites for Mr Trump’s golf development.
It is expected that restoration work on both buildings will be completed in spring next year.
The Trump Organisation will work on the Menie Estate development with a team of companies led by golf course architectural specialist Hawtree.
The team also includes accountants Johnston Carmichael, and Acanthus will design the clubhouse. Both have offices in the north-east.
The team will be managed by Neil Hobday, project director of Trump International Golf Links in Scotland.
The news comes exactly a year after Scottish ministers took control of all decisions on Mr Trump’s Menie Estate development plans.
Mr Trump said: “It is extremely exciting that the project has become a reality.
“We are working through the planning process and, as soon as we receive our detailed planning approval, the golf course construction can begin.”
Mr Sorial added: “Everyone on the development team has proved themselves and we are very honoured to have that group working with us.
“We have the right recipe of ingredients to continue to do a great job in Scotland, and the future is looking bright for the project.”
Mr Trump’s £1billion golf development will include two golf courses, a five-star 450-bedroom hotel, 950 holiday homes and 500 private family homes.
The development was originally rejected by Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee last year, before being called in by the Scottish Government.
The subsequent public local inquiry gave Mr Trump the go-ahead to build the development with conditions, including incorporating community facilities such as schools into the development.
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