The bucks, it seems, have beaten the birds. Donald Trump’s ambition to build the world’s greatest golf resort on conserved coastline north of Aberdeen has been recommended for approval on the grounds that the social and economic advantages outweigh the environmental drawbacks.

Mr Trump’s dream is breathtaking enough, in its size and audacity, to make one grateful not to be standing in the shoes of the poor council planners making the decision.

But they decided, nevertheless, in the American billionaire’s favour.

Aberdeenshire councillors, meeting next week, are to be advised to approve outline planning permission for two championship golf courses and what amounts to an adjacent small town – a golf academy, a 450-bedroom hotel, almost 1,000 holiday homes and about 500 private houses.

It is estimated that the Trump International Golf Links will create more than 6,000 jobs and tens of millions of pounds for the local economy.

The conservation lobby has protested at the impact that the 1,400-acre resort will have on the environment, especially the one third designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Simon Milne, chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “The highly sensitive and dynamic dune ecosystem is recognised as one of the top five dune habitats in the whole of Britain.The planners are failing to meet their statutory duty to protect biodiversity.”

Sue Lawrence, of Scottish Natural Heritage, the Government’s advisers, said that it had counselled that it would destroy a third of the important natural heritage features of the SSSI, which could not be recreated elsewhere. The organisation thought that a single championship golf course could be accommodated on adjacent land within the site, without causing significant impact.

Of 432 letters received by the council, 105 objected and 327 supported the proposal. A 28-signature petition against was also received. Objectors said that it was the whim of one rich individual; it would increase house prices; and most of the jobs would be seasonal and low-paid. It was inappropriate in scale and would destroy wildlife and the rare sand dune system.

Those in favour, however, described it as the best thing to happen since North Sea oil; it was vital economically; and no other country would pass up such an opportunity.

Raymond Reid, Aberdeenshire Council’s head of development, said that the golf resort proposal was an occasion where the social and economic benefits were of national importance and these did override the adverse environmental impacts.

Tom Fazio, a leading American golf architect, has been appointed to design the courses around the dunes, which will be stabilised by planting marram grass.

George Sorial, who is in charge of the development, said: “We are not going to come in with waterfalls and build walls, we are not going to do what we would do in Las Vegas. We have great respect for Scotland and I understand what a Scottish product should be.” Mr Sorial, like Mr Trump, is of Scottish origin. Mr Trump’s mother Mary Anne was born in 1912 in Tong, near Stornoway, and Mr Trump has a sentimental attachment to Scotland. He is said to have looked at 200 other sites before choosing it.

Lora McLuskey, for Mr Trump, said that he was extremely encouraged but knew that this was the first step in a complex process.

Keeping score

Total cost: up to £1bn

Jobs: more than 6,000 during construction; more than 1,000 after

Size: 2 courses, 450-bed hotel, 1,000 holiday homes, 500 private houses

Economy: estimated £205 million generated during construction and £47 million every year of operating