Controversial Loch Lomond Flamingo Land plans recalled by Scottish ministers

In September 2024, the Yorkshire-based theme park operator, Flamingo Land Ltd, had their planning permission in principle rejected by all 14 board members of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Planning Authority. 

Now, plans for the development at Lomond Banks have been recalled by Scottish Ministers reports our sister title The National. 

Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee (below), said he has recalled the plans as the proposed development raises issues of “national significance”. 

He said: “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.  

“This means that the appeal should be determined at a national level.” 

The news comes after more than 50,000 people wrote to McKee in just two weeks, demanding that the Scottish Government withdraw its approval of the mega-resort planning application. 

Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said the public’s opinion on the proposal, which is the most opposed in Scottish planning history with more than 155,000 individuals lodging objections, “couldn’t be clearer”.   

He said: “In just two weeks the Planning Minister has heard directly from over 50,000 people calling on him to block these proposals. Public opinion couldn’t be clearer and it is backed up by experts including the Government’s own environment watchdog.” 

Organisations such as the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust, the Ramblers, and the Scottish Government environment watchdog, SEPA, also raised objections against the plans. 

The £40 million proposal for the resort includes plans for more than 100 holiday lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, and more on the site called Lomond Banks.