The first construction work on the Trump International Golf Links project in Scotland will begin on Wednesday morning.

Meeting on Tuesday, Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine area committee voted to approve the planting of marram grass, preparatory earthworks and the erection of sand fences, with the aim of stabilising the dunes. The committee granted permission subject to a number of suspensive conditions which mudy be resolved before work starts. These include a bond to be agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage sufficient to restore the nature conservation interest of the dunes to a natural state in the event that the development as a whole does not proceed.

Responding to the decision, Donald Trump said: “We are pleased to announce that work on site will begin tomorrow, ahead of schedule, to build the greatest golf course in history. For a golf course there are no dunes and there is no land as large and magnificent anywhere in the world. I want to thank Aberdeenshire Council, the business community and the residents of Aberdeenshire for their ongoing support.”

Pressure group Tripping Up Trump, which has been campaigning against the development, has threatened legal action against the decision. Lawyers acting on behalf of the group and David Milne, one of the four homeowners refusing to sell their property to Trump, sent a letter to the council, demanding that the application be removed the committee's agenda.

Martin Glegg, the co-ordinator of Tripping Up Trump, claimed the council's decision to refer the Trump application to a meeting of a local area committee was evidence of Aberdeenshire Council being ‘in bed with Trump’ and ‘breaking rules’ to help the Trump Organisation.

The developers also announced that master planning is on schedule for submission to Aberdeenshire Council for approval in early 2010. Detailed planning permission could then be granted, allowing the full construction of the resort to begin.