Scottish council approves $185 million Trump housing plan

[September 26, 2019]    By Tom Bergin

(Reuters) - A Scottish council has approved a 150 million pound ($185 million) plan by U.S. President Donald Trump's family business to build 550 houses at his golf resort north of Aberdeen, despite some local opposition.

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a news conference on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, New York, U.S., September 25, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The approval paves the way for the Trump Organization to move ahead with one of its largest investments since Trump took office.

Trump announced the purchase of the 1,500 acre Menie Estate in 2006 and said he planned to create a two-course resort with a 450-room luxury hotel and other tourist facilities.

He built one course, which is loss-making, but Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd said there was no longer market demand for a large five-star hotel.

The company sought planning permission instead for 50 rental cottages and to build 500 houses for sale, the proceeds of which could help fund the next stage of the resort expansion.

The vote by the council on Thursday to back the application is a victory for Trump who bought the land at Balmedie cheaply because it was largely zoned for agricultural use.

Aberdeen is struggling with a decline in the North Sea oil industry and Scottish authorities hope the resort will help develop tourism in the area.

Aberdeenshire Council said it had received 2,921 valid representations from the public about the housing plan, 2,918 of which were objections while three supported the application.

One councellor said opposition to the plan was motivated partly by hostility to Trump's presidency but other councillors denied this.

Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd. is ultimately owned by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, an entity created by Trump to hold his property assets, the company’s accounts show.

(Reporting by Tom Bergin; editing by Kate Holton and Stephen Addison)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.