Donald Trump, the US tycoon, has finally been given the green light to develop his £1b golf resort and five-star hotel in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
The decision by the Scottish Government marks the end to two-year long battle between Trump and local campaigners, who claimed the plans would damage sensitive sand dunes and wildlife on the proposed site at Menie.
The dispute went to central government after the scheme was initially rejected by an Aberdeenshire Council committee
Finance Secretary John Swinney backed the plans, but said the Trump Organisation would need to make sure sand dunes and wildlife on the estate were properly protected.
Trump said: “We are greatly honoured by the positive decision and believe that the people of Scotland will be extremely happy with the final product.
“It will be a tremendous asset and source of pride for both Aberdeenshire and Scotland for many generations.”
The decision was welcomed by council leaders and VisitScotland, which hopes the resort will boost tourism, but opponents of the scheme, such as the Sustainable Aberdeenshire group and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, hit out at the Government.
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By Daniel Thomas
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