Minister will not intervene in Flamingo Land Loch Lomond plans

The Scottish Government will not intervene to stop a controversial development on the banks of Loch Lomond, a minister has confirmed.

A report from the government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division confirmed it was allowing the appeal lodged by Lomond Banks, which challenges a decision made by the local planning authority last year.

It could give the green light to a new £40m resort, including a monorail, waterpark, hotel and restaurants.

Flamingo Land-owned Lomond Banks has lodged several planning applications to develop the site in recent years but has been faced with significant local opposition.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park authority board unanimously rejected the development last September, ruling it did not comply with environmental policies.

Public finance minister Ivan McKee said following consideration of the evidence, a planning reporter had issued a notice of intention to allow the appeal and grant planning permission in principle.

This will be subject to 49 planning conditions and a legal agreement being put in place.

McKee added: “Given the very technical planning issues raised in this case and the high level of public interest, I consider it appropriate that objective planning judgement is applied in this case, and for that reason I do not intend to recall this appeal.”

By law, ministers have the power to call in planning applications and take the decision themselves.

Green MSP Ross Greer, who has long campaigned against the development, said he was “incredibly disappointed” that the minister did not intend to call in the application.

He urged McKee to “reject this mega-resort”, adding that not to do so would mean the “profits of a theme park operator are put ahead of Scotland’s national interest and world-famous natural environment”.

The campaign led by Greer collected over 150,000 signatures. Objections to the latest application were also lodged by the National Trust for Scotland, Woodland Trust and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

Labour’s Jackie Baillie backed Greer’s request for ministers to call in the application, adding: “The reporter’s decision does fly in the face of expert evidence, the unanimous decision of the national park, the view of Sepa, and indeed the overwhelming majority of local people.”