In a storyline reminiscent of the movie "Local Hero", Donald Trump has been refused permission to build a vast housing and double golf course development on an environmentally sensitive area of Scotland coastline.
Last week the local area planning committee passed the proposal but last night Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee rejected it. The plans called for two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes, 36 golf villas and 500 private homes. The "McMacmansions" were essential for the finances and were seen by many critics as the main impetus behind the $2billion+ development.
Trump can appeal to Scottish ministers but if they do rule in favor, it could then be appealed to European courts in view of the environmental importance of the site. More details below the fold.
Trump's troubles started when a local fisherman/farmer who owns 23 acres on the site refused to sell. His property would be between the two golf courses and the five star hotel. This brought out Trump's kind, diplomatic side:
Describing the land as "in total disrepair", Mr Trump said: "Take a look and see how badly maintained that piece of property is. It’s disgusting. There are rusty tractors, rusty oil cans. I actually asked him, ‘Are you doing this on purpose to try and make me look bad, so I have to pay some more money?’"
Trump had far bigger guns ranged against him. This included an umbrella group called "Sustainable Aberdeenshire"who have quoted the various environmental protection groups.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) objected:
"SEPA objects to the above planning application on the basis of the permanent and significant loss of a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitat which would significantly reduce the biodiversity of the local area."
Scottish Natural Heritage (another governmental group) objected to the details of the development:
This development, specifically the championship golf course and associated infrastructure, will have significant adverse impacts both to the coastal landform interest and the coastal vegetation within the Foveran Links SSSI and also to the sand dune habitats south of the SSSI. The Environmental Statement clearly states this. The vegetation types include habitats listed within Annex 1 of the European Habitats and Species Directive. The construction of a golf course on this dune system will be contrary to the UK Coastal Sand Dunes Habitat Action Plan. SNH does not consider it possible to mitigate or compensate for the loss of this important habitat. SNH therefore objects to the proposal to construct a championship golf course in its current location. SNH can, however, see the potential to construct a single championship course on other adjacent land within the development site without causing significant impacts to this SSSI or sand dune habitats
"Site of Special Scientific Interest" or SSSI is a designation designed to protect sensitive environments.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds objected to the development because of the damage it would do to the biodiversity in the SSSI.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust reacted angrily to the original approval (.pdf press release.)
Paul F. Gallagher, SWT’s National Planning Co-ordinator said: "The advice provided by the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been completely ignored. The developers could have sited the proposal away from the designated and sensitive dune habitat but they failed to consider how the environmental impact could be diminished. If the plan proceeds in its current form, this development will destroy one of the top five dune habitats in the whole of Britain."
The approval by the Formantine Planning Committee is not the final decision and the application will be presented to the Aberdeenshire Councils Infrastructure Services Committee, if they uphold this decision it will automatically be referred to the Scottish Ministers. As Gallagher continues "This approval completely undermines the legislation that protects and recognises areas such as this for their habitat significance. The Scottish Wildlife Trust now hopes that Aberdeenshire Council and the Scottish Ministers will reject the proposal and will confirm that the environment cannot be bought at any price."
Trump "the ultimate definition of the American success story" had of course been using the project to publicize himself. He was emphasising his Scottish roots as part of getting support from the project:
The project will only strengthen Mr. Trump’s connection to Scotland, where his mother grew up in a simple croft (a small agricultural land unit found in northern Scotland) on the Island of Lewis in Stornoway
The croft (building) is usually described as a simple one-room dwelling with a thatched roof. Clearly the people of Aberdeenshire consider Trump's hairstyle enough of a homage to his mother's home without having a massive golf development ruining part of it.