Businesses which support Donald Trump's £1bn plan to build "the world's best golf complex" on the outskirts of Aberdeen are being urged to put their views in writing.

Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce has written to its 1200 members urging they comment on the planning application so the view of the "silent majority" is not ignored.

The proposed development on the 452-hectare Menie estate near Balmedie includes two 18-hole links golf courses, a 450-room hotel, conference centre and spa, a golf clubhouse, a golf academy, 950 holiday homes, 36 golf villas, an accommodation building for 400 staff and 500 houses.

The application is scheduled to be considered this autumn and has attracted opposition from the Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage who have all expressed concerns about the impact it will have on the Foveran Links Site of Special Scientific Interest.

There have been 83 objections and 58 support letters.

In his letter, Geoff Runcie, chief executive of the chamber of commerce, highlighted the economic benefits of the development.

"The chamber has been provided with access to key aspects of the economic impact assessment carried out on behalf of Trump International by Deloitte," he said.

He said the overall net impacts include supporting 6230 jobs in Aberdeenshire over the whole of the course of the development and 740 jobs in the rest of Scotland.

In gross value-added terms - a standard measure for assessing economic contribution - the development could create as much as £205m additional economic output in Aberdeenshire and £262m in Scotland over the course of the build.

In the long term, it could support 1250 jobs in Aber-deenshire and a further 190 jobs throughout Scotland.

The ongoing gross value-added annual impact would be £47m for Aberdeenshire and £58m for Scotland.

He told The Herald: "If the silent majority don't express support for these developments, it makes the planning process skewed in favour of the dissenters. It is important the business community are empowered with the information, the opportunity and my encouragement to formally express their support."

Meanwhile, golf great and course designer Jack Nicklaus yesterday visited Ury Estate near Stonehaven where he is to design only his second Scottish signature golf course.

He said he was there to view a property and possibly sign a contract, adding "the planning process for the site has been under way for some time but we have not yet set any schedule for the development".

The course will be the centrepiece of a £40m resort in the Mearns countryside which will include a hotel, and seven golf lodges.