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Donald Trump to build 550 homes in Aberdeenshire

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Donald Trump to build 550 homes in Aberdeenshire

The Trump Organisation plans to build homes, retail and leisure facilities at Menie Estate, home to his golf course in Scotland.

The application was approved by 38 our of 62 councillors
Image: Donald Trump's company is to build 550 homes at the site of his golf course in Aberdeenshire
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Donald Trump's plans to build 550 homes in Aberdeenshire have been approved by councillors.

Permission has been given to the Trump Organisation's developer to construct the homes, as well as retail and leisure facilities, at Menie Estate, home of Trump International Golf Links, which is owned by the US president.

The application was passed by 38 out of 62 councillors during a meeting in Aberdeen on Thursday.

TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND - JULY 15:  U.S. President Donald Trump waves whilst playing a round of golf at Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort during the U.S. President's first official visit to the United Kingdom on July 15, 2018 in Turnberry, Scotland. The President of the United States and First Lady, Melania Trump on their first official visit to the UK after yesterday's meetings with the Prime Minister and the Queen is in Scotland for private weekend stay at his Turnberry.  (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Image: Mr Trump made time to play golf when he visited Scotland in 2018

Councillors approved the scheme despite criticism that it deviated from original plans for the site, which included a 450-bedroom hotel as part of the first phase of the luxury golf resort.

The hotel has not been built and accommodation for tourists is currently limited to 21 rooms at the MacLeod House hotel and an accompanying lodge.

Fifty of the 550 houses agreed are designated holiday units and 500 a mixture of private residences, rental properties and holiday homes.

The planning committee recommended the application for approval and said it would "still result in development that will provide economic and social benefit to the local area and region".

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Councillor Martin Ford, a critic of Donald Trump, did not vote and said his previously voiced views would exclude him from taking part.

Scottish ministers called in the original planning application and granted approval for the controversial development in 2008.

The development will include 550 homes
Image: The development on the Menie Estate will include 550 homes

Plans for a second golf course on the Menie Estate near Balmedie were approved by Aberdeenshire councillors on Tuesday.

Sarah Malone, Trump International Golf Links executive vice-president, said: "I'm absolutely delighted. Common sense has prevailed."

She said the approval for the plans was "a clear endorsement by the northeast of Scotland that the Trump development to date is already a success".

The properties will be built on an 84-hectare site within the Menie Estate.

Planning manager Mairi Stewart said the new plans were "perhaps less attractive" than the original development proposals but acknowledged that the economic climate had changed.

Council leader Jim Gifford expressed disappointment that there would no longer be a five-star hotel but accepted "things have moved on".

Councillor Richard Thomson, who opposed the proposals, said: "I think we can do better than this and so can the applicant.

"We were promised something transformational with this development, I don't think that this is it."

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