Flamingo Land is appealing against refusal of its £40 million Lomond Banks resort as the Scottish government is accused of encouraging the developer to press ahead with the controversial project.
An appeal had been expected earlier today once it emerged that Scottish Enterprise had agreed to an extension over the company’s rights to buy the land.
A proposed theme park with two hotels, a hundred lodges, monorail and 370 parking spaces was unanimously rejected by the board of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park in September.
Scottish Enterprise has now extended Flamingo Land’s exclusivity over the land alongside the River Leven and southern shore of Loch Lomond, which makes up a majority of the proposed site.
Ross Greer, the Green party MSP who was a key figure in opposing the plan, warned afterwards that the agency’s decision would inevitably prompt an appeal.
In a statement just hours after SE’s decision was made public, Jim Paterson, development director for Lomond Banks, said: “We have submitted our appeal for our Lomond Banks development to the planning and environmental appeals division [of the government] in line with the timings outlined to us via letter from Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
“We wholeheartedly believe in the many benefits Lomond Banks could bring to Balloch, the Vale of Leven and Scotland as a whole and ask the DPEA for a fair hearing and to consider the facts of the proposals.”
Mr Paterson added that the investment would be a “notable boost” to the area and said the company had been “urged by members of the local community to drive forward with the appeal in the hope that the many benefits this development would bring can be unlocked and brought to fruition”.
Mr Greer, who collected a record 155,000 objections, disputed Mr Paterson’s claims of community support and said the number of signatories on the petition showed widespread opposition to the plan.
“We have urged Flamingo Land to accept reality and get round the table to discuss alternatives, but they clearly have no interest in listening to the community,” he said.
Tonight, after hearing of the appeal, he said: “This is desperate behaviour from a greedy company who refuse to accept that their absurd plans are not welcome at Loch Lomond. The Scottish Government must listen to the community and the experts, reject this appeal and protect a world famous Scottish landscape.
“It is frustrating that their appeal has been enabled by the exclusive government contract I urged the First Minister to end back in September. Frankly, it should never have been renewed after their first failed bid in 2019. This saga has gone on for years longer than it needed to.
“It really is a nightmare before Christmas to hear that this greedy developer just won’t take no for an answer.”
Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie, a local MSP, added that there was “significant opposition to this development”.
She added: “I am clear that the majority of the community do not wish this development to go ahead.” At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Ms Baillie asked John Swinney to end the deal.
Mr Paterson insisted that the company’s final proposals were “adapted to reflect more than two years of ongoing community engagement to ensure our outline plans really showcase the suitability for the site at Balloch”.
He added: “The Lomond Promise – our unilateral legally binding agreement – outlines our commitment to ensuring local people and local businesses greatly benefit from the development, and we would ask the DPEA reporters to consider our proposal, currently at planning permission in principle (PPiP) stage on its true merit.”
James Fraser, former Loch Lomond Tourism chief and recent chair of the Friends of Loch Lomond, added: “I welcome the developer’s decision to submit an appeal against the refusal of this proposed high-quality tourist development.
“The former derelict and still polluted site at West Riverside, along with the derelict Woodbank Hotel near Loch Lomond Shores, have long been zoned for tourism in key planning documents.
“The appeal process will allow a thorough review of the project’s merits, including its significant economic benefits in an area with high unemployment. The proposed development’s proximity to public transport and waterbus hubs also enhances its potential to be a nature-positive, carbon-neutral, and thriving gateway to Loch Lomond.”
A spokesperson for Scottish Enterprise said: “Scotland’s statutory planning process is designed to ensure that economic, environmental and community interests are all taken into account when an application is considered.
“That is why we opted to make any sale of the land at West Riverside subject to planning permission, ensuring that the full range of evidence and views are fully considered.
“We believe this process should be allowed to run to its conclusion. Scottish Enterprise will therefore extend the conditional missive with the developer to allow any planning appeal to be considered.
“We continue our engagement with Balloch and Haldane Community Council around their plans to see how we can support them while this process is ongoing.”
