Trump gets green light for 550 homes at Menie

Councillors have approved the Trump Organisation’s plans for more than 500 homes at its Aberdeenshire golf resort.Proposals for 550 homes on a site within the Trump International Golf Links estate at Menie, near Balmedie, were backed by 38 votes to 24.Other plans for the 1,500 acre estate, which were lodged in July last year, include 50 hotel cottages, sports centre, retail, equestrian and commercial spaces, alongside other resort related leisure facilities.A bid for a second golf course at the resort was approved on Tuesday.Council officers had recommended the housing plans be approved by councillors subject to a number of conditions.The application was initially expected to be considered in February, with a final decision on the development expected in March, but late information was received which delayed the decision.Council planning officers then recommended the application for approval despite claiming it “significantly breaches” legislation.In November, it emerged that a council memo described the plans as a “weak substitute” for the original proposals put forward 10 years ago.The Trump Organisation described the remarks in the memo as “naive at best”.