Trump threatens to take £1bn development across the Irish Sea

24/11/2008 12:05:44

Despite the Scottish government finally approving the Apprentice's Donald Trump's plans for a new £1 billion Scottish golf development near Aberdeen, the multi-millionaire is reportedly considering scrapping the plans in favour of a site in Northern Ireland.

The development would have been a major boost for construction specialists in Aberdeenshire, but it now seems it could be the engineers in Ulster that are to benefit.

According to the Daily Record, Trump has been put off by the slow progress made in Scotland and the set of 80 conditions imposed by Aberdeenshire council have not helped matters.

The measures, which include stipulations about the protection of bats and badgers, seem to have been the final straw for Trump, although recent reports that Sean Connery was set to open the Balmedie course in Scotland signify that there may still be hope.

The keen golfer and former James Bond star would be given membership number 007, according to golfbidder.co.uk.

Aberdeenshire councillor Debra Stor of the Liberal Democrats suggested that Trump may be bluffing about moving the development.

"When Trump was threatened with a whisper of opposition in the past, he has said he will move the development to Northern Ireland," she told the Daily Record.

"I am now beyond believing anything that the Trump Organisation says these days."

Whether the businessman decides to stay with his original Scottish plans or bestow the gift of the golf course on the Scots' Celtic cousins, the development will certainly generate a host of new construction jobs in the area.

Construction jobs in Aberdeenshire

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