Recommendation due on controversial £40m plans for Flamingo Land development

A report recommending whether or not planning permission should be given to a controversial £40m Flamingo Land development at Loch Lomond will be issued on Monday.

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority will make a decision on September 16 regarding plans for a monorail and water park resort in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, as well as 104 wooden lodges, shops, two hotels and 372 parking spaces.

More than 150,000 objections have been lodged against the development of a Flamingo Land waterpark on the banks of Loch Lomond – a proposal branded “the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history” by the Greens.

The Party has called for an end to a deal between the theme park operator and Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s national economic development agency, if the resort is rejected next month.

Scottish Enterprise, a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, owns the majority of the loch-side site on which the resort would be built by the Yorkshire-based theme park operator.

Flamingo Land was granted a “conditional missive” in 2016, which was renewed in 2020, the Scottish Greens said.

The agreement means only Flamingo Land can buy the land and prevents the community and other interested parties from bringing forward “less destructive” alternative proposals, the Greens said, describing the current plans as “garish and completely inappropriate”.

Various environmental and conservation organisations have objected to the proposals, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued a conditional objection based on flood risk.

The Greens said: “It is by far the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history and has been opposed by the National Trust for Scotland, Woodland Trust and Ramblers Scotland as well as the local community council.”

Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has called on First Minister John Swinney to end Flamingo Land’s exclusive agreement with Scottish Enterprise for the sale of public land if the bid is rejected.

He said: “The message from the local community and from across Scotland is loud and clear, Flamingo Land is not welcome at Loch Lomond.

“150,000 is a monumental number of objections for a planning application, which tells you all you need to know about just how destructive and unwelcome these mega-resort plans are.

“It would be a disaster for Balloch and for Loch Lomond. It would destroy the gateway to one of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes and have a devastating impact on local wildlife and nature, never mind the threat to local businesses and grief for residents.

“This saga has lasted for almost a decade, and the community is simply exhausted. They want Flamingo Land gone for good.

“I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to lodge their objection and make the scale of opposition known. The more people learn about Flamingo Land’s daft plans, the more determined they are to stop them.

“Early on in this process they promised to walk away if they didn’t win public support. We passed that point long ago. If they have any shame, Flamingo Land will drop this appalling application and leave Loch Lomond alone.

“For far too long residents in Balloch have lived with the constant threat of Flamingo Land hanging over their community. For a decade this saga has angered, frustrated and exhausted local people.

“We cannot allow a theme park operator to hold one of Scotland’s most iconic sites to ransom in the way they have.

“The agreement should never have been renewed after their first application failed. If this bid is rejected, then it must be the end of the road for Flamingo Land.”

The family-owned company set up the original Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire in 1959, with the motto: “Wild Animals, Wilder Rides.”

The developers claim the Greens’ campaign portal could allow for multiple objection entries.

Jim Paterson, development director for Lomond Banks, said: “Our exclusivity agreement with Scottish Enterprise follows on from a stringent, public tender process where our proposals for West Riverside were deemed to be the most feasible to bring to fruition and closely met the objectives and ambitions for the area in the local development plan.

“Through real, positive dialogue with local residents, businesses and stakeholders, we’ve shaped our plans to meet the area’s needs and aspirations for job creation, economic growth and inward investment, whilst being sympathetic to the area’s natural beauty.

“We fully expect that our agreement will continue as per the conditions set out in the contract.

“Our commitment to Balloch and West Riverside is unwavering, and we believe our proposed development is sustainable, environmentally sound, commercially viable and will be a catalyst for investment, generating opportunities for both the local community and Scottish tourism for years to come.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers cannot comment while this application remains live.

“It is for Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park as the relevant planning authority to implement planning legislation and guidance in relation to this application.”

Flamingo Land has been contacted for comment.