Work is expected to begin on a major housing development in Elgin in the new year after Moray Council gave the scheme its final seal of approval.
The plan to develop 1,500 homes to the north of Elgin has been hailed as a milestone in the history of Moray’s biggest town.
The 276-acre site at Findrassie is expected to take more than 20 years to build, and will stretch from Duffus Road in the west to Lossiemouth Road in the east.
This week Moray Council endorsed a finalised draft masterplan, which will be used as a guide for all construction work that will take place on the site.
Landowner Pitgaveny Estate undertook the development in conjunction with chartered surveyors Savills-Smiths Gore.
The surveying firm’s planning adviser, Donald Lunan, attended the meeting of the council’s planning committee to watch as the layout he had laboured over was agreed.
Speaking after the decision, Mr Lunan said the “final piece of the planning puzzle” had been put in place.
And he said he expects work will begin on creating the vast housing complex within months.
Mr Lunan added: “The development is now being operated by Moray Council, but any planning applications for building work will have to measured against the masterplan we have provided.
“This work has been described as an exemplar in terms of planning, and that is something we are very proud of.
“Now it is just a case of going forward and getting things under way by engaging developers and working with them.”
The local authority’s development planning officer, Eily Webster, talked planning committee members through the detailed design layout.
Ms Webster said: “As well as 1,500 houses this area will feature 12 hectares of employment land, to be developed over the next 20 to 25 years.
“There will be a local hub, incorporating a school, community facilities and shops.
“This has been carefully designed to create an attractive gateway into Elgin from the north.”
The committee unanimously elected to proceed with the development using the recommended masterplan.
Three public workshops took place to help with the creation of the Findrassie scheme.
The most recent exhibition took place at Moray College’s Alexander Graham Bell Centre in September.
Visitors were guided through the development, and left feedback which helped to form the final design.