EDINBURGH, Scotland — Scottish lawmakers last week backed government efforts to save Donald Trump's proposed $2.1 billion golf resort that would be built on an unspoiled beach near Aberdeen.

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

The project is now before the Scottish Parliament's economy, energy and tourism committee and a final decision on the project is still likely months away.

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

Trump's organization has said it is considering moving the billion-pound project to Northern Ireland after Aberdeenshire Council last week threw out plans for two championship golf courses and a five-star hotel on the northeast coast.

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 protected as an area of special scientific interest.

"The council is being bullied," said Councilor Martin Ford who cast the deciding vote when the council became deadlocked.

"There is an important principle at stake here," Ford said. "It is certainly true that the council has been subject to hardball corporate American tactics."

Trump 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.