US property magnate Donald Trump’s £1b golf resort in Aberdeenshire has been given the provisional go ahead.

Councillors making up the local council’s Formartine Area Committee have voted in favour of outline planning consent.

Trump’s scheme, which will feature two 18-hole golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 36 golf villas if given the go ahead, will now require approval by Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee, which meets next week.

However, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Friends of the Earth (FOE) remain concerned about the potential harm to indigenous birds and the environmental impact of building homes on the coastline of the scheme.

FOE spokesman Gregor McAbery said at the start of the year: "It's a significant development, with around 1,000 new homes and a hotel planned in the green belt, which is contrary to Aberdeenshire's current structure plan.

Trump has previously threatened to abandon the location and look elsewhere at the cost of the scheme’s proposed creation of 6,000 jobs and £60m boost to the local economy.


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By Chris Druce

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