News Release
RA Scotland Convener, Alison Mitchell, today called for strengthened protection to Scotland’s coastline following yesterday’s decision by Aberdeenshire Council to reject Donald Trump’s prospective golf, housing and hotel development on the coast at Balmedie, north of Aberdeen. (1)
While strongly welcoming Aberdeenshire Council’s refusal of US billionaire Donald Trump’s £1billion development plans for the Aberdeen coastline (2) , Alison Mitchell said:
“Scotland needs to send out a much stronger message to the jet setting developers – hands off our world famous coastline – our scenery and wildlife are for everyone to enjoy, not just those who have paid to stand on the first tee.”
Alison Mitchell emphasised that we cannot continue with ad hoc protection of the coast, with local councils continuously exposed to excessive development pressure:
“Too many developers with large cheque books are pressurising our coastline. While Aberdeenshire’s councillors have stood firm, demonstrating the integrity of the planning system, it has failed elsewhere, with too many examples along the Fife coast, from Crail to St Andrews, and at Archerfield in East Lothian, where councillors have given greater priority to the golf course developer than to the wider public interest.”
Alison Mitchell welcomed the opportunity provided by the forthcoming Marine Bill to bring Scotland’s coastal protection policies up to the standard found in other European countries:
“ We are not opposed in principle to new golf course developments but they must be pushed back much further from the coastal edge. People and wildlife need to be able to breathe and enjoy the space between land and sea and, as sea levels rise because of global warming, this space must be able to absorb the impacts of storms and changing shorelines. This is definitely not the place for manicured greens, tees and fairways, surrounded by sprawling housing developments.”
Alison Mitchell urged the Scottish Government to learn the lessons from other European countries (3).
“As Spain moves to demolish some of its ugly coastal housing and hotel developments and Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Baltic States and parts of Germany have for a long time protected their coastlines from development, the lessons are clear: we need zones around all our coastline, from 100 metres to 1 kilometre, where there is a presumption against development – where the needs of conservation, informal outdoor recreation and coastal erosion control take precedence.”
“With political interest growing for a round-Scotland coastal trail (4), bringing significant economic benefits to many coastal communities, now is the time for the Scottish Government to make its intentions clear. We need the draft Marine Bill, when published, to set the European standard for protecting and enjoying our fantastic coastline. Let us hope that, by the next St Andrew’s Day, the Holyrood politicians have responded to the clear signal from Aberdeenshire’s councillors and laid out a comprehensive plan to safeguard the whole of the Scottish coastline.”
ENDS
More information:
- US billionaire Donald Trump’s £1billion plans for a golf development at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire have been rejected by Aberdeenshire Councillors.
The project was given outline planning approval last week by Councillors on the Formartine area committee. Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee has now rejected the plans with the chairman using his casting vote after a tied vote.
The proposals involved two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes, 36 golf villas and 500 private homes.
A number of environmental organisations – including Ramblers Scotland – and local groups opposed the proposed development.
- Ramblers Scotland letter of objection raised the following issues:
- Ramblers Scotland is not opposed in principle to the development of golf courses in this area, but we had serious concerns about this application - in particular the effect on the landscape.
- The massive development would adversely affect the landscape character and visual amenity of the area. The hotel and holiday apartment blocks would dominate the area, since they were proposed to be eight storeys in height. We would expect development to be more appropriate to its location within this undeveloped landscape.
- It would have represented a dramatic overturning of planning policy at all levels from national to local. The proposal was contrary to the general aims of NPPG 13 Coastal Planning which directs new development to the developed rather than the undeveloped coast. This is backed up in the Aberdeenshire Structure and Local Plans, particularly in relation to their policies on new housing, and therefore the development would have been a departure from the strategic objectives of the Development Plan. In addition, SPP1 says, "decisions should be taken in line with local priorities and needs as identified in the Development Plan”.
- With so many adverse impacts and departures from strategic planning objectives, we believe the Council is justified in refusing permission for this development.
- We also had concerns about the potential loss of a large area of land for recreational access.
- We would also expect to see constraints on development with regard to the protected dune system. In line with comments from Scottish Natural Heritage, we advocated bringing the golf course further inland from the SSSI and dune area, into the farmland west of the dunes. This would avoid damaging the site, and allow a protected coastal zone for recreational access, nature conservation and management of coastal erosion.
- Our coasts face particular pressures – from both development and climate change.
Ramblers Scotland has proposed the introduction of a protected coastal zone around Scotland of at least 100m, and in places up to 1km, for recreation, conservation and management of coastal erosion. This type of protection already exists in many other European countries.
The aims of this zone should be multiple purpose - integrating recreation with species and habitat conservation and coastal defence. This would also offer the opportunity to develop a coastal path round Scotland within this protected zone.
See Edinburgh Evening News article
- Ramblers Scotland has been discussing the concept of a Scottish coastal trail with MSP Alasdair Morgan.
