Campaigners welcome decision to call in Flamingo Land's controversial Loch Lomond plans after government U-turn

Daily Record

a day ago

The Scottish Government has called in plans for a major development on the banks of Loch Lomond.
Campaigners have welcomed a decision by the Scottish Government to call in Flamingo Land's controversial plans for a £43.5million resort on the banks of Loch Lomond.
Yorkshire-based theme park operator Flamingo Land, through its subsidiary Lomond Banks, had proposed to construct two hotels, over 100 lodges, a waterpark and monorail at Balloch.
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After a long-running battle, initial proposals were shelved in 2019 due to significant local opposition and concerns from bodies such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), the Woodland Trust and the National Trust for Scotland.
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Subsequent revised plans were unanimously turned down by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park authority - however, an appeal by Lomond Banks was upheld by a Scottish Government reporter, who imposed 49 conditions on the developer and required them to reach an agreement with the authority before commencing construction.
Despite pressure from MSPs, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee had previously declined to step in regarding the decision to proceed with the plans.
But in a statement released on Tuesday evening, he confirmed that the government would now recall the plans.
"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," the minister said.
"This means that the appeal should be determined at a national level."
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Mr McKee had previously mentioned that "technical planning issues" were involved in the application, stating it was right for "objective planning judgment" to be used, hence the Government would not intervene.
Following his remarks, a campaign spearheaded by the Scottish Greens saw over 50,000 individuals petitioning him to reconsider.
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Loch Lomond South Community Development Trust (LLSCDT) welcomed the decision and said it is actively working to shape and promote a "positive, community-ledalternative vision for the area—one that supports sustainable tourism, protects theenvironment, and truly benefits the people who live, work, and visit Loch Lomond".
LLSCDT chairwoman, Lynne Somerville said: 'The people who live here must have a real say in the future of this place—not as an afterthought, but as equal partners.
"The overwhelming response from the community shows not only opposition to inappropriate development, but also a clear appetite for something better—something rooted in fairness, sustainability, and local benefit.
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"Under the 2015 Community Empowerment Act, communities like ours are legally entitled to be heard and treated with respect in decisions that affect our land and future. It's time that legislation was meaningfully upheld.'
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The announcement arrived just a day before Scottish Labour planned to initiate a debate urging Government intervention, with Dumbarton MSP and the party's deputy leader Jackie Baillie suggesting ministers were apprehensive about a potential defeat.
"The SNP face a motion tomorrow from Scottish Labour demanding that the application is recalled," she commented.
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"Thanks to cross party support for our motion, the SNP has U-turned before it was defeated in the chamber."
In her statement, Ms Baillie remarked: "This is a welcome U-turn by the SNP, though it shouldn't have taken the fear of a defeat in Parliament to force them to reach this decision.
"The SNP has ignored concerns time and time again – from politicians across the chamber and from local campaigners.
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"It is not right that a single reporter was allowed to overrule the National Park Authority's unanimous decision to reject the bid of the Flamingo Land resort.
"This decision requires proper democratic oversight and I'm pleased ministers have finally accepted our calls and agreed to step in."
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Reacting to the announcement, Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer commended the decision, saying it was the "right move".
"The evidence of the damage it would do to one of Scotland's most iconic locations is overwhelming," he added.
"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.
"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."