An inquiry into American tycoon Donald Trump's plans for a Ј1bn golf resort north of Aberdeen is to get under way.
The inquiry - ordered by Scottish ministers after an Aberdeenshire Council committee rejected his plans - is expected to last several weeks.
Mr Trump - due to be the first witness - wants to build the "world's greatest golf course" at the Menie Estate.
Environmental groups and local campaigners have criticised the bid, while business leaders have backed it.
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Mr Trump flew into Aberdeen in April, 2006, to visit the area where he has pinned his hopes on building a world class resort.
"It will be the greatest golf course anywhere in the world," he said.
"There'll be nothing even close. The fact is it will be something very special, there won't be anything like it."
The local and political controversy that followed has rarely subsided.
Council support
The application includes two championship golf courses and a luxury hotel.
In November last year, Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee rejected the plans on the casting vote of the chairman at the time, Martin Ford.
Mr Ford was later sacked as the committee's chairman, a move he said sent out the "wrong message" on the planning system's integrity.
Councillors gave overwhelming support to the Trump plans, but the matter was called in by the Scottish Government due to its importance.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said there was to be a public inquiry "given the nature of the application and the considerable public interest".
In March this year, a parliament committee said First Minister Alex Salmond took a "cavalier" approach to his involvement with the plans.
Holyrood's local government committee raised concern that a government decision to call in the plans came after "two five-minute phone calls".
But, following an inquiry, it said the unprecedented decision was "competent".
The Scottish Government said the probe had found ministers and officials had acted within planning law.
(BBC)
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