Trump off target in drive to create Scottish golf paradise

Published on Saturday 3 June 2006 23:58

AMERICAN billionaire Donald Trump has missed his May target for submitting a planning application for his new £300m golf resort in the north-east of Scotland.

In announcing the project at Menie Links, 10 miles north of Aberdeen, at the end of March, the wealthy property developer said he hoped to lodge plans in May with work starting in September. But his hopes of making rapid progress appear to have faltered. Aberdeenshire Council, which will decide on whether to grant the US tycoon planning permission for the resort, says it has yet to receive an official application.

The Trump Organisation, which has threatened to pull out of the project if it encounters resistance from officials, denies progress has slowed.

A spokeswoman said: "The Trump Organisation is in consultation with all relevant environmental bodies, specialists and consultants to ensure a full, responsible and accurate planning application is submitted as we very much respect the planning process and the procedures involved. We will be submitting the application as soon as we have the detailed information finalised."

But a senior planning expert said that a September starting date was now "highly optimistic". "You need to submit an environmental statement at least three months before you even put in your planning application. Then it is likely... the planning department will want the developers to do a traffic impact study, which could also take some time. We are also already moving into holiday season, which is likely to have an impact."

Trump intends to build two 18-hole golf courses in a 4,000-year-old sand-dune system along the Aberdeenshire coast as well as a 500-bed luxury hotel, holiday cottages, golf academy and club house.

As part of the site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Trump could face objections from statutory bodies such as Scottish Natural Heritage and groups such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The project has already become embroiled in controversy over First Minister Jack McConnell's role, and a potential breach of the ministerial code of conduct, after it emerged he had met Trump to discuss the plans.

E-mails which surfaced last week under Freedom of Information legislation showed that McConnell wanted to give Trump an elevated "platinum" status within the GlobalScot network of influential pro-Scottish businessmen and women.

McConnell has now formally rebutted claims of a potential breach of the code of conduct. Under Scottish Executive rules, it is his office which would conduct an investigation. However, McConnell has now written to Green MSP Patrick Harvie, confirming he will not launch an investigation into himself.

"There is no basis... on which a formal investigation under the Ministerial Code would be warranted," he wrote.