Plans for a new £1billion housing development in Aberdeen took another step forward yesterday when councillors granted permission for more than 100 additional homes.
Construction is already well underway on the 3,000-home Stewart Milne project at Countesswells, which will accommodate an estimated 7,000 residents once complete.
At the planning committee, councillors voted 14 to two in favour of a section of the development which will contain 124 homes.
Jim Fitzimons, the director of the Countesswells project, said: “Today’s decision supports our phased approach to the delivery of the new community of Countesswells with parcels of development being brought forward in line with the vision and masterplan for the site.
“The first phase of enabling infrastructure works, including roads and services, is well advanced and the building of the first homes within the first neighbourhood will begin soon.
“We will be starting to build homes on an adjacent site that already has detailed planning permission, and the site approved today will be developed in due course to meet market demand and support the growth of the town.”
The developers have proposed that the new community will include 750 affordable properties, schools, parks, healthcare facilities, and space for medium to small-sized businesses.
But the two objectors to the plans, councillors Martin Greig and Jennifer Stewart, raised fears the surrounding infrastructure will be unable to handle the increased amount of traffic in the area once the development is complete.
Mr Greig said: “I moved for refusal of the plans at the committee meeting on a number of grounds, but in particular with regard to how this will affect motorists.
“Councillor Stewart and I are both very concerned that the increase in traffic in the area that will no doubt occur with this new development will severely affect routes like Friarsfield Road, Skene Road, Springfield Road and Queen’s Road.”
Work on bringing essential utilities such as gas, electricity and telecommunication services to the development has resulted in the Cults to Kingswells road being closed from August 19 to December 16.