Plans for Flamingo Land resort at Loch Lomond rejected

Controversial plans to build a £40m holiday park on the banks of Loch Lomond have been rejected by the Scottish government.

The decision comes after years of often bitter debate between theme park operator Flamingo Land and people living in the area who campaigned against the plan to build a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants.

The Scottish government said its decision was due to “flood risk, woodland loss and wider policy conflicts”.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Park Authority initially rejected the plan in September 2024, only for the Scottish government to overturn that decision after an appeal. However, it then recalled the plans due to the impact on the local area.

Lomond Banks, the company behind the proposals, said the rejection “flew in the face” of its plans for “regeneration and long-term economic benefits to one of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities”.

The decision to reject the development goes against the recommendation of the government’s own adviser, who said it should be approved.

Ministers said that although they accepted his findings, they reached a different conclusion regarding the possible risks in the development, particularly regarding flooding and the loss of historic woodland in the area.

The report says it was “a finely balanced decision” and that allowing the resort would bring economic benefits to the area.

However, it says the “significant concerns relating to flood risk and woodland loss are of such importance that, when taken together with the other development plan conflicts identified, the proposed development does not comply with the development plan overall”.

The other conflicts raised in the report include ministers believing that the plan would clash with the “ongoing aim of conserving and enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the area”.

Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer, a vocal opponent of the development, called the decision “a huge victory for the local community”.

He added: “This mega resort would have had a devastating impact on the iconic local environment, the community and the local economy.

“My message to Flamingo Land today is simple; walk away. This community and the people of Scotland have told you time and again that your destructive plans are not welcome.”

Flamingo Land first submitted plans to develop the site in 2018, but withdrew them the following year after a wave of negative reaction.

It later submitted updated plans in 2020, insisting the proposal – titled Lomond Banks -would be a “major step away” from its other resorts, which include a popular theme park and zoo in Yorkshire.

However, the Loch Lomond park authority board ruled that the updated scheme still conflicted with both regional and national environmental policies, and unanimously rejected back the plan.

There was particular concern over the increased risk of flooding of the River Leven.

Locals were also concerned about the impact on the area’s natural beauty, with more than 174,000 people signing an online petition against the project.

An appeal to the Scottish government’s planning reporter – who handles most appeals on behalf of the Scottish government’s planning and environmental division – was successful last year.

But weeks later the Scottish government’s Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee, decided to recall the plans because of the overall impact on Loch Lomond – meaning the final decision would be down to ministers.

That decision prompted Jim Paterson, Lomond Banks’ development director, to say opponents of the plan had run a campaign with “baseless and offensive” claims about the plan, claiming this was rooted in “hysteria and mistruth”.

Speaking after the decision on Tuesday, Paterson said Lomond Banks’ plans would have been “transformational” for the wider area.

He said he believed issues around flood risk and impact on woodland could have been addressed by new design work.

Paterson added: “Today’s outcome is dismissive of the reporter’s recommendation and flies in the face of what this area was ear-marked to accomplish, which is bad news for Scottish business and tourism as a whole.

“Not to mention the local people who will now miss out on jobs, local supply chain opportunities and wider investment as a result.”

Heather Reid, convener of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority said the decision “vindicated” its board’s move to reject the proposals.

She said: “This is a successful outcome that recognises the statutory aims of the National Park and supports the long-term vision for the National Park set out in our National Park partnership plan – a vision where people and nature not only coexist, but thrive together.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, whose Dumbarton constituency covers the area earmarked for development, added: “It has long been clear that the proposal was flawed and it was rejected by the overwhelming majority of my local community.

“It beggars belief that just months ago, the Scottish government initially refused to call the application in for scrutiny and their own Planning Reporter gave this decision the go-ahead.”