Combative US property developer Donald Trump has revealed that he is pressing on with his controversial scheme to build a massive golfing resort on Scotland’s north-eastern coast
Mr Trump flew into Aberdeen this week to promote the property development project and to answer the criticisms of protesters and locals who are utterly opposed to the £750 million scheme.
He told the Financial Times: “With the world’s financial markets crashing, with the euro and other currencies – except for the dollar – being at an all-time low, I want to highlight the fact that this development is being built with cash and does not rely on financing.”
“Sixty million dollars has already been invested in the project by me – it is being built out of my back pocket. I do not even have a mortgage or financing on the land – unlike many other developments that are announced and never built.”
The Scottish Government granted Mr Trump planning permission for the resort two years ago. The development entails two coastal championship golf courses, with an adjoining five-star hotel with 450 bedrooms and a golfing academy, along with 950 holiday homes and 500 private family residences – plus 36 luxury golfing villas.
Last autumn the first landscaping work began on the site, with marram grass being planted on its sand dunes. Mr Trump told the newspaper that he planned to name the dunes “The Great Dunes of Scotland.”
He explained: “This name is a tribute to my mother, Mary Macleod, who was born and raised in Scotland – and very much loved her country – and also to Scotland itself.”
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