THE US billionaire, Donald Trump, is to be given land worth an estimated £5 million from Aberdeenshire Council in a deal which one councillor yesterday criticised as a "sweetener" and a poor use of public property.
In the latest twist to the Trump saga, the land would be used to build 100 affordable homes for local people, as well as space for 52 homes which the Trump Organisation can sell.
The deal was made in secret by council officers who have the power t
o make such accords, known as Section 75 agreements, without oversight from elected councillors.
The homes would form a secondary part of the American businessman's proposed £1 billion golf resort at the Meanie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
However, Paul Johnston, the Lib-Dem councillor who represents the area in which Trump wishes to build his resort, described the deal as a "sweetener". He said: "We are giving away land worth millions without any councillor approving it. Is this the best value for the electorate? To me, this looks pretty much like a sweetener."
A public local inquiry is currently being held into the development, which would include two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel and nearly 1,000 homes.
Under current Aberdeenshire Council policy, developers are asked to provide housing for low-income families in return for being granted permission to work on major developments.
But George Sorial, Trump's managing director for international development, dismissed the suggestion that the deal is a "sweetener" as "absurd".
Mr Sorial said: "The council identified to us the land where it wished the affordable housing to be built and we have worked with them to make that an integral part of an overall project that features many millions of pounds of investment by us. It is absurd to view the arrangement as some kind of inducement and it's important to stress that we're still discussing the details of the arrangement with the council.
"The ongoing public local inquiry is examining every aspect of this development in detail and those councilors opposing it should really be focusing on the inquiry and respecting its processes."
The document revealing the land handover only came to light as part of the ongoing public inquiry.
At the moment, even the precise location of the land is being kept a secret.
Murray Shaw, QC, who is representing Aberdeenshire Council at the inquiry, was quoted as saying: "If you go to most local authorities and tell them that a developer will build 500 houses but also provide affordable homes if they put in some land, and be able to sell some as well, most would see that as a positive arrangement."
Inquiry to end, but minister has final sayTHE public inquiry into plans by Donald Trump, the American tycoon, to build a £1 billion golf resort at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire is expected to finish this week.
The inquiry, which began on 10 June, was ordered by John Swinney, the finance secretary.
When the inquiry is complete, the inquiry reporter will present his findings to Mr Swinney, who will make the final decision.
However, ministers are not bound to follow the recommendations of a public inquiry. Nicol Stephen, the former Lib Dem transport minister, approved the M74 extension in Glasgow despite the public inquiry report recommending the road should not go ahead.
The Trump resort inquiry was ordered by Scottish ministers after an Aberdeenshire Council committee rejected the plans.
Environmental groups and local campaigners have criticised the proposal to build two golf courses, a five-star hotel, 1,000 holiday homes and 500 private houses on a three-mile stretch of coastline. Opponents argue it could cause irreversible damage to protected sand dunes in a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The full article contains 632 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
