Loch Lomond Flamingo Land receives approval from Scottish Government

The controversial Flamingo Land resort proposals have been granted approval by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government Reporter gave the multi-million pound water park development for the banks of Loch Lomond “planning permission in principle” on Friday.

In other words, Flamingo Land will be allowed to proceed to the next stage of planning and scrutiny and reach an agreement with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority – which rejected the proposals last year.

Although the Reporter “had regard to all of the points that have been raised in objection”, they said those objections provide “no grounds to depart from the presumption in favour of development that accords with the development plan”.

The Yorkshire-based theme park operator Flamingo Land celebrated the decision as a “real milestone moment for the Lomond Banks vision”.

But Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer said he was “shocked” and slammed the decision as an “anti-democratic outrage”.

“I cannot believe that Flamingo Land’s destructive and immensely unpopular mega-resort is being given the go-ahead by Government officials,” the West of Scotland MSP said on Friday.

“Their destructive plans were unanimously rejected by the National Park’s board, opposed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust, the Park’s expert planning officers and 155,000 people who joined our Save Loch Lomond campaign.”

‘Utter dismay’ and ‘deep disappointment’

Woodland Trust Scotland’s policy and advocacy manager Simon Ritchie said the Trust is “utterly dismayed” by the news on Friday.

“The loss of ancient woodland to a development anywhere is shameful. To see it destroyed in a National Park beggars belief. This proposal contravenes multiple regulations and sparked vast opposition locally and nationally.

“We are extremely disappointed by the Reporter’s decision that this inappropriate development should go ahead, with the loss of irreplaceable ancient woodland.”

Heather Reid, convener of the national park authority, said the decision is “deeply disappointing” after its board unanimously rejected the application.

“We acknowledge the notification from the Scottish Government reporter that he is minded to allow the appeal and grant planning permission in principle for the Lomond Banks tourism development in Balloch,” she said.

“We stand by the reasons for the board’s unanimous decision to refuse this planning application and it is deeply disappointing that the reporter has taken a different view. We will now take some time to go through the report and to understand its implications.”

More than 150,000 people previously objected to the development of the Flamingo Land waterpark on the banks of Loch Lomond.

It was also formerly branded “the most unpopular planning application in history” by the Scottish Greens.

Jim Paterson, development director for Lomond Banks, said the proposals have been informed by “more than two years of positive engagement” with local communities and stakeholders.

“At the heart of our plans is a commitment to sustainable investment, local jobs, and a long-term partnership with the area, backed by our legally binding Lomond Promise to ensure the future prosperity of Balloch and beyond,” he said on Friday.

Flamingo Land could impact lochside roads and communities. Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trosachs

‘World-class holiday village’ or ‘garish and completely inappropriate’?

Developers are hoping to create a “world-class family holiday village” on the banks of Loch Lomond in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire.

The current plans include a monorail, two hotels, 104 wooden lodges, up to 62 riverfront and woodland lodges, a pool, water park, and spa, restaurants, cafes, and shops, a craft brewery and beer tap hall, 372 parking spaces, outdoor event, performance and barbeque areas, and more.

“Despite what you may have heard, there are no rollercoasters, theme park attractions or flamingos earmarked for the development,” developers said on their website.

The Scottish Green party previously described these plans as “garish and completely inappropriate” for the area.

What happens next?

Planning permission in principle does not mean that Flamingo Land will be able to proceed to development.

However, it is a major milestone.

Flamingo Land Ltd will now be faced with drawing up full, comprehensive plans for their resort and water park for consideration.

Scottish Ministers will make the final judgement.

Woodland Trust’s Mr Ritchie called on Ministers to back the Park Board’s decision which he said was “well evidenced, unanimous and correct”.

Mr Paterson added: “As we look beyond today’s decision, we remain committed to being a strong and valued contributor to the local economy and we look forward to progressing with our proposals as we now consider detailed planning.”

MSP Greer committed to fight on, saying in a statement he will “leave no stone unturned”.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “An independent reporter has issued a decision intimating that he is minded to grant planning permission in principle for the proposal subject to 49 planning conditions subject to a legal agreement being reached between the national park authority and developer to secure the employment and environment issues that are set out in the Lomond Promise.

“As the appeal remains live, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the merits of the proposed development.”