CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a resort on the banks of Loch Lomond have been recalled by Scottish ministers after they were approved.
Last month, the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) gave notice that the reporter in charge of the case would allow the appeal for the Flamingo Land resort after it was rejected by the local authority.
In September 2024, the Yorkshire-based theme park operator, Flamingo Land Ltd, had their planning permission in principle rejected by all 14 board members of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Planning Authority.
Now, plans for the development at Lomond Banks have been recalled by Scottish Ministers.
Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee (below), said he has recalled the plans as the proposed development raises issues of “national significance”.
He said: “I have decided to recall the Lomond Banks appeal as the proposed development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
“This means that the appeal should be determined at a national level.”
The news comes after more than 50,000 people wrote to McKee in just two weeks, demanding that the Scottish Government withdraw its approval of the mega-resort planning application.
Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said the public's opinion on the proposal, which is the most opposed in Scottish planning history with more than 155,000 individuals lodging objections, “couldn’t be clearer”.
He said: “I am glad that Ivan McKee has decided to do the right thing and use his power to intervene to protect Loch Lomond from destruction.
“The evidence of the damage it would do to one of Scotland's most iconic locations is overwhelming.
“Once Ministers consider the flood risk, loss of ancient woodland, hundreds of additional cars which would be brought onto notoriously congested roads and the litany of other devastating impacts it would have, I am sure they will reject the mega-resort application and finally end this decade-long saga.
Organisations such as the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust, the Ramblers, and the Scottish Government environment watchdog, SEPA, also raised objections against the plans.”
The £40 million proposal for the resort includes plans for more than 100 holiday lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, and more on the site called Lomond Banks.
Greer added: “People across Scotland expect their Government to protect our natural heritage.
“Given previous mistakes, including the approval of Donald Trump's golf course despite local objections and serious environmental concerns, this is an opportunity for Ministers to show that they have learned and will now put people and planet ahead of greedy developers.”
