Scotland just made it harder for Trump to expand golf empire

Aberdeen

IN 2006, businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump bought a 728-hectare estate in Scotland's north-east, near Aberdeen. It was beautiful, with views of the North Sea and surrounding sand dunes.

Then he announced plans to build a golf course. In true Trump style, he promised the world. He envisioned a grand complex with two world-class golf courses, a luxury hotel and 1,450 homes on the property. It would be, he said, a US$1.5 billion investment.

But then came a string of setbacks: The 2008 financial crisis roiled Mr Trump's businesses, forcing him to delay or cancel a number of projects. The local planning commission called his Scottish proposal "extremely implausible" and refused to support it. Recalcitrant n…