FLAMINGO Land will submit new planning proposals for the Loch Lomond-side site which they had hoped to turn into a tourist village.
The original £30 million plans to build two hotels, a craft brewery, restaurants, and a leisure centre on 44 acres next to the loch became the most unpopular proposals in Scottish history after around 55,000 people objected.
Although Flamingo Land Limited submitted the proposals, the village would not have been branded as such and it would not have been a theme park.
Now the company, which runs a zoo, resort and theme park in Yorkshire, will try to resurrect the rejected development scheme.
The BBC reported Flamingo Land’s "refreshed plans" would have visitor accommodation and walkways in keeping with the local environment, with public access maintained throughout the site. However, it is not clear when exactly they will be submitted.
While the move has been hailed as “really timely positive news” by Scottish Enterprise (SE), which owns the site, others have expressed outrage at the plans’ revival.
READ MORE: Scottish Enterprise 'can't break Flamingo Land Loch Lomond deal'
SE's Allan McQuade said: "The plans for Lomond Banks present a really timely positive news story for the local economy but also for tourism in Scotland, both of which have suffered hugely as a result of the pandemic.
"This development will bring much needed employment and investment to the area, while maintaining the integrity of the local environment."
However, Green MSP Ross Greer said it was “an outrage and will cause huge upset to the community in Balloch”.
He went on: "A public agency that ignores the wishes of the public is not fit for purpose.
"Flamingo Land's destructive plans were the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history, with overwhelming local and national opposition."
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority is responsible for deciding all planning applications in the National Park area.
SE have agreed to sell the site to Flamingo Land Limited should the planning permission be granted.
It has previously been reported that SE has an exclusivity agreement with Flamingo Land, meaning the land cannot be offered for use to any other interested parties.
Greer presented a petition calling for an end to this agreement to Holyrood after it had been signed by 13,000 people.
However, SE said it was legally bound to honour the deal.
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