Last Wednesday Scottish lawmakers backed government efforts to save Donald Trump’s proposed $2.1 billion golf resort that would be built on an unspoiled beach near Aberdeen, located along Scotland’s east coast.

The Scottish government took the unusual step of agreeing to review Trump’s application after a local council rejected it.

“The committee felt the decision has given a worrying message to the rest of the world that Scotland is closed for business,” Tavish Scott, the head of the committee, said after the meeting.

Environmental groups and local campaigners opposed the plans to build near sand dunes that are home to rare birds, skylarks and lapwings. The area is also protected as an area of special scientific interest.

“There is an important principle at stake here,” said Martin Ford, a Aberdeenshire council member. “It is certainly true that the council has been subject to hardball corporate American tactics.”

Trump, the billionaire property developer wants to turn the Menie Estate into a resort complete with two 18-hole courses, a 450-room hotel, 950 vacation homes, 36 golf villas and 500 luxury homes costing up to 1 million pounds (1.4 million euros, $2.1 million) each.

“The project would create 1,440 jobs across Scotland,” Councilor Debra Storr said.

The Trump Organization claims it has received more than 50 offers of land to build the resort. “An option to buy land in Northern Ireland has been signed and the clock is ticking on that at 30 days,” said Neil Hobday of Trump International Scotland.