Planning permission to build a second 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland has been given by Aberdeenshire Council.
Despite concerns from conservationists about further development on the Menai Estate, local councillors issued full planning permission for the second course at a meeting held on October 23.
The new course is to be called the MacLeod, the maiden name of Donald Trump’s Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Hebridean island of Lewis, before emigrating to New York. The second course will be built on land to the south and west of the first and will share the existing clubhouse and practice facilities.
The council, which voted 8-4 in favour of the application, claims the new course ‘will contribute towards the significant social and economic benefits expected to be delivered by the wider development proposals within the Menie estate’.
Aberdeenshire Council’ s economic development officer, Douglas Rennie, said: “If you look at tourism, the north-east is growing to meet demand. You can see this development would generate further growth – the first course at Menie created 200 jobs, so this could add another 120 in the area. There’s no doubt of a positive economic impact.”
The opening of Trump International Golf Links in 2015 was marred by controversy, with its construction blamed for damaging the dunes system at nearby Foveran Links, an official site of special scientific interest (SSSI). The latest decision means that Foveran’s SSSI status – given because of its unusual shifting sands and diverse plant life – will have to be removed completely in the next few months in order to enable the construction of the second course.
A total of 15 conditions were placed upon the development by Aberdeenshire Council in its granting of planning permission. These include the submission of details concerning bridges that will be installed and the materials to be used, as well as plans regarding the protection of local animal and plant species. Trump International will also be required to submit plans concerning the maintenance of the local environment, including the nearby dunes system at Foveran Links, which is designated as a site of special scientific interest.
Objections were initially made by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) regarding the lack of information about environmental and water management plans for the new construction. However, the report of handling states that following the submission of a number of supporting documents and subject to a number of relevant planning conditions, SEPA now has no objection to the proposal.
Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International Scotland, said: “We continue to remain focused on the long-term vision for our magnificent estate and are moving steadily forward with our infrastructure and development plans for the next phase of construction at our world-class resor. The MacLeod course will be built to the highest specifications and standards to complement our award-winning championship links. The course will be constructed alongside our estate residencies, cottages and country homes that were approved at the end of last year.”
Plans for second course at Trump International in Aberdeen given go ahead
