Proposals by theme park operator Flamingo Land to build a £40 million resort on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland have been rejected.
The resort would have included a water park, hotel, restaurants and a monorail, but the plans were rejected by the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park authority board on Monday (16 September).
The proposals had sparked opposition over issues such as flood risk, increased traffic, and impact on local businesses. More than 174,000 signing a petition against the resort.
The Loch Lomond park authority ruled that the Flamingo Land development, called Lomond Banks, did not comply with environmental and conservation policies.
Board convener Heather Reid said the national park authority “unanimously refused a planning application for a major tourism development”.
“This decision was taken following a thorough, robust and transparent process,” she added.
“That process included a site visit, careful consideration of the planning assessment report, and of consultation responses from local and national public bodies, other statutory consultees, and representations from members of the public.
“The board heard from speakers both in support of and in objection to the proposal at a hearing heard in public in Balloch today.”
Reid said the board found that the proposals would fail to deliver “significant biodiversity enhancement”.
Via the BBC, Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer said: “Residents have been united against this daft plan from the start, stepping up to defend one of Scotland’s iconic landscapes.
“After almost a decade, this is the result the community and campaigners deserve.”
Opposition to Lomond Banks plan
Flamingo Land representative Fiona Robertson said the project would have created a “significant” amount of economic growth and jobs.
Flamingo Land first submitted its plans for the Loch Lomond destination in 2018. These were withdrawn in 2019, then updated and resubmitted in 2020.
Reid said the national park’s partnership plan “states that future development and infrastructure within the national park should support tackling the climate emergency and maximise opportunities to deliver or enable nature restoration”.
“Ultimately the board felt that this proposed development would not do that,” she added.
Images courtesy of Lomond Banks
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