A spat has broken out over claims that the north-east is facing a housing shortage crisis.
Planners at the Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Planning Authority (SDPA) claimed the region would meet the required number of housing units next year and would “considerably exceed” new house building targets thereafter.
The rebuttal comes after property developer Ken Ross claimed the Aberdeen City and Shire housing market area faced a shortfall of 17,000 new homes by the end of 2016.
Mr Ross said a housing needs assessment for the area called for 27,300 new homes to be built, but that only 14,572 were set to be built in the period.
But the SDPA took issue with the comparison, claiming Mr Ross was comparing “apples with pears”.
Explaining points of difference between a complex raft of assessments, development plans and actual building, the planning body explained that while it had identified land to build 27,818 homes across the AHMA by the end of next year, it was on track to meet its objective of seeing 9,965 homes built.
Councillor Peter Argyle, chairman of the SDPA, said: “Mr Ross is clearly trying to manipulate figures for his own advantage.
“While there are undoubted challenges with the delivery of affordable housing in the current financial climate, both councils are working hard to increase build-rates – including through the City Region Deal proposals.
“We are not complacent but Aberdeen City and Shire has a generous supply of housing land and we will continue to work with the private sector and Housing Associations to bring that land forward for development in accordance with the development plan.”