US President Donald Trump has brought forward plans for 500 houses at his Aberdeenshire golf resort.
The Trump Organisation says £150million will be invested into proposals including 50 cottages and a sports centre with shopping and equestrian facilities at the Menie estate near Balmedie.
There will be two to five-bedroom cottages as well as townhouses and mansions, with property prices beginning at £295,000 and going up into the millions.
Donald Trump – pictured at his Aberdeenshire golf course – has brought forward plans for 500 homes at the site
The development – which will be known as The Trump Estate – will also include an hotel, a residentsí gym and an equestrian centre
Aberdeenshire Council has already been granted outline approval for the plans, which are the second phase of development at the resort.
The first phase included a championship golf course, clubhouse and hotel, but Mr Trump and the organisation had been accused of failing to deliver on investment and jobs promised when the controversial development was allowed in 2008.
The family firm says phase two will support nearly 2,000 jobs across Aberdeenshire during construction and provide nearly 300 permanent roles.
Eric Trump, who now leads the Trump Organisation with his brother Donald Jr, said: ‘We own a truly phenomenal property along the coast of North East Scotland and remain fully committed to our long-term vision for the site.
The family firm says phase two will support nearly 2,000 jobs across Aberdeenshire during construction and provide nearly 300 permanent ones too
‘The timing is now right for us to release the next phase of investment and the significant economic benefits this brings.
‘Initial interest to our plans have been incredible and, subject to detailed planning approval, we are aiming to break ground next year.’
Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International in Aberdeen, added: ‘We are delighted to unveil the plans we have been working on for the past few years.
‘This is the second phase of our multi-phase development project which combines all three components of our original masterplan vision including five-star golf and leisure facilities, luxury hotel and resort accommodation and residential village.
Trump is set to build 500 homes, including multi-million pound mansions, at his golf course near Balmedie, Aberdeenshire
‘Improvements to the region’s infrastructure and recovery signs in the economy makes this the right time to drive forward this next major phase of development.’
An independent economic assessment has been carried out, which estimates the development will boost the region’s economy by more than £250million.
Donald Trump first applied for permission to create what he has termed as ‘the world’s greatest golf course’ at Menie in 2006 but Aberdeenshire Council rejected the proposal.
The £100million application was later called in by the Scottish Government, and ministers granted it in November 2008.
The tycoon was also given approval to build 2,750 homes and an eight-storey hotel on the 1,500 acres of land at that time, providing he created the golf course first.
Bosses at the estate say that the fresh proposal represents phase two of the overall £750million scheme.
Bosses at the estate say that the fresh proposal represents phase two of the scheme at the Trump golf resort
The development at the resort is taking inspiration from villages in Aberdeenshire that surround the golf course
Plans for the eight-storey hotel have been scrapped, with an initial 50 cottages instead being built to board holidaymakers.
The change has been influenced by market fluctuations following the oil downturn which has hammered the north-east economy.
The development has been inspired by Aberdeenshire villages such as Monymusk, and new homeowners will be given ‘preferential access’ to the US president’s golf course.
The Trump family firm is pushing forward its plans for 500 homes at the golf course in Aberdeenshire
The cottages at the resort will be between two and five-bedroom homes and a sports and equestrian centre will also feature
The settlement will be rolled out in eight stages over the next three to five years, as bosses gauge which building types are most popular.
The top-end properties have been named Balmoral, while others have titles such as Ythan, Forvie and Leighton.
One block will feature shop space on the ground floor, offices above that and flats on the top floor.
Richard Marsh, a leading economist at 4-Consulting, was commissioned to undertake a review of the proposal.
Mr Marsh said: ‘This is a major investment which has the potential to support thousands of jobs and help to broaden and diversify the region’s economy.’