Trump’s £1bn Golf Course Gets Go Ahead

US business tycoon Donald Trump has received planning approval for his proposals to build a new £1bn golf resort in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Trump’s plan to build two golf courses, as well as hundreds of homes, at Menie has been the subject of resentment from environmental and business groups for the last two years.

The plan was called in by the Scottish Government after it was initially rejected by an Aberdeenshire Council committee and Finance Secretary John Swinney has now backed it after a public local inquiry.

Swinney said outline planning permission was being granted and that the significant economic and social benefit of the project was a major consideration in his decision.

However he said the Trump Organisation would need to make sure sand dunes and wildlife on the estate at Menie were properly protected and that no more than 500 private homes be built.

However, groups including Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and RSPB Scotland opposed the project due to Trump’s plans to build part of a course on sensitive sand dunes.