Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman and would-be US presidential candidate, has today been involved in a second major planning defeat over his battle to prevent an offshore wind farm being near the site of his north-east golf course.
Last month, his judicial review appeal against the Scottish Government for consenting to the offshore development itself for ‘lack of process’ was not only rejected by the Court of Session, but roundly rubbished by the judge.
Initially, Aberdeenshire Cooncil’s Formartine Area Committee(*) rejected the planning application submitted by the project partners for the associated onshore works for the (now consented) offshore wind farm.
The European Offshore Wind Development partnership (EOWDC) then lodged an appeal over the cooncil’s decision to the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals – which upheld the partners’ appeal. Subsequently, residents in Blackdog appealed this decision – but the latest Court of Session decision refused the residents’ appeal.
Aberdeenshire cooncil has since become an SNP-led administration.
The substation development at Blackdog is just a few miles from American tycoon Trump’s Menie estate and golf course. Trump claims the wind farm development would spoil the view from his complex.
Andy Paine, project director for the EOWDC and head of offshore wind development in the UK for Vattenfall, said: “The partners behind the EOWDC welcome the Court’s decision as it brings the project a step closer to fruition.
“It also further underlines the robust case made by the development team for the onshore works. The substation and cables are an essential component of the EOWDC and we would like to reassure local residents that ground works would be carried out to the highest standards.
“At the same time, the EOWDC is widely recognised as being a key driver in helping to ensure the region’s future prosperity as the north east deploys its skills in oil and gas to support the delivery of offshore wind’s clean, affordable and home grown power.”
** ‘Cooncil’ is the Scottish language word for ‘council’ and is not pejorative:
Dictionar o’ the Scots Leid / Dictionary of the Scots Language – http://goo.gl/7xo5Bk
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