‘Trumpton’ housing plan sets record for objections

ESTATE: Campaign group highlights no affordable houses and ‘profiteering’

Donald Trump’s plan to build a luxury housing estate near his Aberdeenshire golf course has set a new record for objections.

The US President’s company last month applied to Aberdeenshire Council for permission to build 550 luxury homes near his Menie estate golf resort.

But more than 3,000 people have formally objected – with another 19,000 signing an online petition. It is a new Aberdeenshire record for objections and close to the highest Scottish total.

The Trump Estate would include a gym, an equestrianism centre and space for shops and offices. The houses, at Balmedie, would cost an average of £1.32 million. The average house price locally is £204,873.

Objections were raised about the lack of access, parking issues and suggestions the development would not benefit the local economy.

The 19,000-strong petition was set up by campaign group TrippingUpTrump and a spokesperson said: “These homes will be unaffordable to anyone except the rich, featuring villas planned to sell for over £1 million.

“No plans for affordable houses, which were promised as part of the planning permission, have been made public. They do not appear in the proposed development brochure.

“This location is entirely inappropriate for a housing scheme. It is far from amenities and is opposed by people living nearby.

“Planning permission for the golf resort was issued on the basis that the economic benefit outweighed the environmental harm.

“Trump cannot be trusted to deliver on his promises for this resort and this new development will further damage the beautiful North Sea coastline while lining his own pockets.

“What’s more, we’re signing Scotland away to a man who deals in lies and hate, which will damage the country’s reputation. Mr Trump has the reputation of an international pariah.”

Comments were accepted by the council until last week and, of the 85 public responses accepted, 82 were objections.

Campaign group 38 Degrees submitted 3,026 official letters of objection. The proposals are due to go before the council planning committee next month.

Martin Ford, green party councillor for East Garioch, who has spoken out against the golf course resort, said residents have had a change of heart since Mr Trump submitted his hotel plans in 2007, which then attracted 2,000 letters of support.

Sarah Malone, vice-president at Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen, said: “Politically-motivated and vexatious objections are not relevant within Scottish planning law.

“This project has tremendous support regionally, nationally and internationally.”

She added that the petition set up by TrippingUpTrump is “fundamentally flawed”.

An artist’s impression of the development, top, and President Trump, above, who has not had his troubles to seek regarding Menie estate.