Councillors have paved the way for Donald Trump to put another key piece in the jigsaw of his multimillion-pound Aberdeenshire golf resort.
They hailed the tycoon’s plans for an extension to 17th century MacLeod House and Lodge Hotel on the Menie Estate near Balmedie as a huge boost for the north-east.
The Trump Organisation’s B-listed property already has 19 rooms, and last year became the north-east’s second five-star hotel, with only the Marcliffe in Aberdeen also having the prestigious status.
Now work will begin on a new wing of the mansion, which will feature a 450-capacity function suite and six bedrooms.
Other additions include an outdoor terrace, gym, kitchen facilities and 79-space car park.
Jamie Hunter, the Trump Organisation’s agent, urged the local authority’s Formartine area committee to support the plans yesterday.
He said: “This facility is now considered even more important than when the application was lodged in March, due to the fact that the Scottish Open will be coming to the Menie Estate in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
“There’s an expectation from people attending this sort of event that the facilities are appropriate.”
A total of 10 objections were lodged to the project, with worries including the scale of the extension and the impact it could have on MacLeod House itself.
Councillors acknowledged the concerns, but heard that an independent design panel had recommended changes to the team at Trump International Golf Links Scotland, which had been taken onboard to ensure the extension was sympathetic to its setting.
Planning officer Ann Ramsay also assured members that the topography of the land meant the new building would remain “subordinate” to MacLeod House.
Councillors focused much of their debate around the size of the car park.
The number of spaces meets the council’s requirements, but several members questioned how 79 spaces could accommodate guests attending weddings, events and trade shows envisaged for the new function suite.
Mid-Formartine councillor Jim Gifford pointed to the vast car parks at golf resort hotels in St Andrews and Gleneagles, and said parking was already a problem at other local hotels.
He said: “I certainly welcome a function suite on this side of Aberdeenshire, but parking is going to be a real issue.
“We know it happens elsewhere, so why design it to be a problem here?
“We need adequate parking for everyone who is likely to use the facility.”
Ellon councillor Isobel Davidson echoed Mr Gifford’s fears, but added she was pleased to see work progressing at Menie.
“To have a five-star hotel in Aberdeenshire is great and they should be congratulated for that,” she said.
“While I may feel that parking is not adequate, it meets council standards.”
Both Ms Ramsay and Mr Hunter assured members there was parking in other areas of the estate which could be used if necessary.
Formartine area committee chairman, Rob Merson, moved for the plans to be approved, and said: “This is a highly desirable and natural extension to the five-star hotel. It is appropriate that it has been brought forward.
“I’m not at all concerned about parking arrangements.”
He was backed by Councillor Richard Thomson, who added: “This is obviously a very substantial extension to the building that’s already there.
“The size could be mitigated largely by its position on the landscape; it is lower than MacLeod House.
“I have no issue with its design and certainly no issue with its purpose to provide further bedrooms on the site and additional function space, which will be a boost to the general tourism offering in this part of Aberdeenshire.”
The project was approved less than a month after New York-based Mr Trump opened his clubhouse, and announced the Scottish Open would be held at the resort next year and in 2019 and 2020.
And earlier this year, the businessman tabled plans to build hundreds of houses and nearly 2,000 holiday homes on the estate.
A fresh masterplan outlining the project will be unveiled in the coming months.