Plans to build 500 homes would pave the way for Donald Trump’s north-east golf resort to make its first community payments – a decade after they were agreed.
The Press and Journal understands that a “planning gain package” will be put forward and negotiatied as part of the proposed £150million investment at the Menie estate in Aberdeenshire.
A detailed Section 75 agreement, which obliges developers to make financial contributions to local infrastructure, was previously struck between Aberdeenshire Council and Trump International Golf Links when the development first won approval in 2008.
The deal was understood to have covered the building of 98 affordable homes, the provision of a primary school for a maximum of 225 pupils and an investment of £500,000 in community facilities.
However, the local authority has confirmed that “no developer obligation payments” were ever made under the contract, because the scale of the development has not been as large as was originally approved, and therefore the “triggers” were not reached.
But that would change if the new proposals for 500 homes are given the go-ahead, with both the council and the developer poised to discuss a package to boost infrastructure.
Details of the new application are still to be published, but it is understood that the original Section 75 agreement remains in place, and any proposals to amend the planning gain contract would have to be considered during the process.
Aberdeenshire Council’s current local plan now requires all new housing schemes to contain a minimum of 25% affordable housing, and the homes must be within the development site in “all but exceptional cases”.
One council source said it was “too early to say” what any new Section 75 agreement would entail for this part of the scheme, and that it would have to be “explored”.
It is also expected that the Trump Organisation will have to secure changes to the conditions set on the original planning consent if it is to build the 500 homes, because it is still to deliver earlier phases set out for the project, including a hotel and golf villas.
In 2008, condition 39 stated: “That no house in connection with the development shall be built until such times as the first phase of development is complete (championship golf course, maintenance building, clubhouse, starters hut, caddy shack, practice facilities and driving range, hotel, 36 golf villas and staff accommodation) to the satisfaction of the planning authority.”
The Trump Organisation could submit a Section 42 application which can be used to vary such previously-agreed conditions.
