Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire golf course begins car park expansion without planning permission

More than 170 extra car parking spaces will be created at US President Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf course despite work starting without permission.

Plans were submitted to Aberdeenshire Council seeking the go-ahead to extend the parking facilities at Trump International near Balmedie.

The Trump family wanted to add a new footpath on the grounds of the original 18-hole course at Menie too.

A total of 179 additional spaces were asked for, of which six would be accessible, to be finished in asphalt to match the existing car park.

Meanwhile, the path will connect the car park to the revamped Coastguard Cottages nearby that were purchased by the Trumps back in 2024.

The proposal also included plans to install 22 new cast iron Victorian-style lighting posts around the car park and ground level low lighting along the path.

However, work had already started on the car park and path despite not getting planning permission first.

The application recently went before the Formartine area committee for consideration.

Members were told that construction work had been halted at the course until a planning decision was made.

Three objections were made by members of the public raising concerns about light pollution and the impact it could have on wildlife and nearby residents.

Those opposing the proposal were worried it could result in an increase in traffic in the area and feared the noise that could bring.

But council planners recommended the plan be given the go-ahead as they believed it was needed to “support the growing needs of the business”.

They said the car park had been “sensitively designed while delivering the car parking requirements”.

And council chiefs thought the works wouldn’t change the character of the area as that had already been altered when the golf course was built more than a decade ago.

Speaking on behalf of Trump International, planning specialist Mark McMurray explained that the success of the golf course has been the driver for the works.

He said: “The resort has proven and established itself as a successful venue for major international events and tournaments with a pipeline of future hosting opportunities.

“One of the key requirements they have is this area, they need that additional parking but also the flexibility to locate some of the supporting functions that they would have for these major events and tournaments.”

Mr McMurray told members that expanding the car parking facilities could help to encourage coach tours to stop at the Menie site.

He added: “Major events and tourism are an important part of the local, regional, national economic strategies.

“Golf tourism in particular is seen as an important growth sector, not just for Scotland, but for the north east.

“The substantial investment in the resort is designed to support all of these strategies, deliver economic growth for Aberdeenshire and Scotland, and place the region on a global tourism map.”

Ellon councillor Isobel Davidson said it was “very disappointing” that work had already started on the car park and path without consent.

But she saw the merit for the extension as the golf course is a “major tourist attraction” in the area.

Fellow councillor Gillian Owen also backed the application as she believed it was “natural progression” of the golfing resort.

She added: “The car parking proposed supports the day-to-day operation of the golf course and wider offerings, as well as levelling the playing field between our internationally recognised golf resort in Aberdeenshire and those competing for major events such as the Nexo Tour that we had last year.

“We should relish diversification to ensure this site brings much needed economic development to this area and the north east.”

Meanwhile, councillor Paul Johnston wanted to approve the plan but asked for the lights to be switched off at midnight to prevent any nuisance to neighbours after hearing from objector Rob Menlove.

But this suggestion didn’t gain the support from the committee, who went on to approve the application without the additional request.