Scottish Greens hit out over Flamingo Land court appeal

In February this year, Ministers refused proposals to build the £40million holiday park on the banks of Loch Lomond, citing concerns over flooding risk and woodland loss.  At the time, they described this as a “finely balanced decision”.

However, on Tuesday, March 31, developer Lomond Banks stated it had issues with “the way ministers reached their conclusion”.

As such, the company will reportedly challenge the rejection in court.

Now, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer has spoken out on this move, condemning the Yorkshire-based theme park operator.

Ross Greer said: “This desperate final roll of the dice is an insult to the community and to the thousands of people across Scotland who stepped up to save Loch Lomond.

“After a decade of behaviour like this, we have had more than enough of Flamingo Land and their daft schemes.

“I expect the Scottish Government to vigorously defend their decision in court. The evidence of the harm these daft plans would do was overwhelming.

“That's why every expert organisation involved was opposed to the application.”

The developer proposed more than 100 holiday lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, and more to be created on the site called ‘Lomond Banks’.

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In September 2024, Flamingo Land Ltd had its planning permission in principle denied by all 14 board members of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Then, in June 2025, the application was recalled by the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division, due to the “national significance” of the site.

A recommendation was made last year for ministers to approve the plans after the application was found to satisfy 50 conditions and an obligation.

Despite this, Scottish Ministers rejected the proposal.

The decision notice reads: "For the reasons set out in this decision letter, the Scottish Ministers do not agree with the Reporter’s conclusions and hereby dismiss the appeal and refuse planning permission in principle for the proposed development."

The ‘controversial’ application has been the subject of local and national division for years, having first been proposed by Flamingo Land Ltd in 2017 before it was redacted, revised, and resubmitted in 2022.

Those who were against the plans said they were concerned about an increase in traffic up to ’14 more cars every second at peak times’, environmental damage, including flood risks, and harm to local businesses.

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The proposals, which were dubbed as ‘the most unpopular in Scottish planning history’, with more than 150,000 people submitting objections through a campaign led by the Scottish Greens.

Mr Greer added: “155,000 people across the country joined the Scottish Greens’ campaign to save Loch Lomond, but Flamingo Land has once again refused to take no for an answer.

“Over the last decade, they have tried to wear down, outspend and exhaust the people of Balloch into letting them wreck the gateway to Loch Lomond. Time and again, though, our campaign defeated them.

“Loch Lomond means so much to people across Scotland. That is why the opposition to these plans has been so overwhelming. Balloch residents want an end to this process.

“They deserve so much better than a destructive mega-resort being inflicted on their doorstep.

“If Flamingo Land cared at all about the community, they would do the decent thing and walk away. The people of Scotland have told them time and again that their daft plans are not welcome.”

Jim Paterson, Development Director for Lomond Banks, previously said: “We are extremely disappointed by the Scottish Ministers’ decision to dismiss our appeal for Lomond Banks.

“This proposal represented a transformational investment in Balloch and the wider area,  delivering significant employment, regeneration and long-term economic benefits to one of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities.

“The independent Reporter appointed by the Scottish Government carefully assessed the application and was still minded to recommend approval, recognising the substantial socio-economic, tourism and heritage benefits the project would bring.

“Today’s outcome is dismissive of the Reporter’s recommendation and flies in the face of what this area was earmarked 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.

“We note that the Ministers’ reasons for refusal relate primarily to flood risk modelling and ancient woodland impacts.

“We remain confident that these matters can be fully addressed through detailed design, further technical assessment and appropriate mitigation,  as is standard practice at the planning permission in principle stage.

“We will now carefully review the decision in full and consider our options.”