Plans to create the north-east’s first “live-work” scheme have resurfaced – more than a year after they were shelved.
Businessman John Forbes believes the idea would be perfect for Aberdeenshire, as it would reduce the number of commuters while offering an alternative for the 55% of small-business owners who already work from home.
Initially, Mr Forbes wanted to build 22 houses, each with a separate designated work space, near Foveran.
Councillors rejected the scheme on the grounds that it breached the local development plan – a decision that was upheld on appeal by the Scottish Government.
The development plan identified 4.4acres of land for employment use, while Mr Forbes’s proposals were for nearly double that. Now Mr Forbes and his team at Brown and Brown Architects have revised their proposals and reduced the size of the site.
The number of “live-work” units is now 13, and a further six business-only spaces are planned.
Mr Forbes, who runs family firm Bon Accord Granite, near the proposed site by Craigie Road, said: “This was never a proposal to get a housing scheme.
“We’ve really tried to have more square metres of business space on the land.
“This is a genuine live-work proposal. It’s a wee bit unique.”
The two, three and four-bedroom houses would feature work spaces next door, but separate from the homes. The revised plans also include a central meeting place. Mr Forbes has previously warned that Scotland was lagging behind England in providing facilities for people to work from home.
In his appeal decision, Scottish Government reporter Michael Culshaw described the scheme as “innovative” but said it could not be supported as it breached policies about the allocation of employment land and building in the countryside. Mr Forbes said: “They didn’t close the door on us, so we’re trying to work around what he said and make the changes so it can be supported.”