Long-delayed plans to build a new supermarket and bring as many as 170 jobs to Turriff are back on track after councillors renewed planning permission.
The planning application was originally discussed by councillors in 2011, but a lack of interest from retailers forced developers to shelve the project.
Now, with renewed optimism in the north-east economy, developer Esson Investments is restarting efforts to bring jobs to the town.
During yesterday’s Formartine Area Committee, Turriff and District councillor Anne Robertson, said: “Given the economic situation previously and now the economic recovery, I do think it would be acceptable to grant this extension.”
The committee expressed concerns about light pollution from the proposed 34,000sq ft superstore but planning agents explained that those objections could be raised when more detailed plans were submitted at a later date.
The application was not well received by Mid Formartine councillor Jim Gifford, who urged developers to speed up the project.
He said: “This is land banking. When is this ever going to be developed?
“This could be an application to develop the site, or to stop others developing the site.”
Mr Gifford’s suggestion that the usual three-year planning permission extension be cut to 12 months was, however, not approved by the committee.
In the recommendation considered councillors yesterday, local authority planning boss Stephen Archer said: “An operator is not known at this stage but it is anticipated that the store will sell a varied range of products, primarily food.
“The retail study identifies that Turriff is due to expand by approximately 510 households due to allocations in the Aberdeenshire local development plan 2012 and, therefore, the proposed medium-scale supermarket would fit the existing and future market and as such be of an appropriate scale and function to serve the settlement.”
An initial layout plan shows a supermarket with more than 200 parking spaces. However, a big-brand operator could make adjustments.
In a letter to the councillors, resident Andrew Jenkins said: “We have lived here for 23 years and are concerned that this development will have an impact on the valuation of our home.”