DONALD Trump is to build a new Scottish housing development after councillors rubber stamped the plan.
The decision, taken today by Aberdeenshire council, comes two days after the US President, who faces an impeachment probe, won the right to build a second golf course in the area.
Trump International, at Menie, opened in 2012 and was at the time the most controversial development in the country.
The new MacLeod course – named after the tycoon's Hebridean mother Mary Anne MacLeod – will be built to the south and west of the original sports facility.
It will now be accompanied by around 550 homes.
The Trump Estate, as the housing scheme is to be called, will include cottages of between two and five bedrooms, with prices ranging from £295,000 to more than £1 million.
Councillors backed the plans by 38 votes to 24.
Approval came despite claims the scheme deviated from the original plans for the site, which included a 450-bedroom hotel as part of the first phase of the luxury golf resort.
The council's planning committee recommended the application for approval, however, stating it would "still result in development that will provide economic and social benefit to the local area and region".
Councillor Martin Ford, a strong critic of Donald Trump, did not take part in the vote, saying his previously voiced views would exclude him from taking part.
The controversial coastal development was approved after Scottish ministers called in the original planning application and granted approval in 2008.
Sarah Malone, Trump International Golf Links executive vice-president, said: "I'm absolutely delighted. Common sense has prevailed.
"This has been a very long planning process for this stage in the development. I'm thrilled for the staff and the rest of the consultancy team.
"Today's very strong recommendation is a clear endorsement by the north-east of Scotland that the Trump development to date is already a success and we want to built on that great foundation and bring forward the future phases of the site."
Councillors heard the properties would be built on an 84-hectare site within the Menie Estate, with the hotel no longer economically viable as Aberdeen is at overcapacity.
Planning manager Mairi Stewart said there was a view the proposal was "perhaps less attractive" than the original development plan but acknowledged changes in the economic climate.
Council leader Jim Gifford said he was disappointed there would no longer be a five-star hotel but accepted "things have moved on".
Councillor Richard Thomson, who opposed the proposals, said he did not accept there had to be a "retreat" from a 450-bed hotel to 50 resort units.
He 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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