A consortium of developers behind a £700million housing plan for the west of Aberdeen are at odds over proposals for an access road near Hazlehead Crematorium.
Heron Property entered into a deal with Stewart Milne Group and north-east businessman Ian Suttie to build a 3,000-home new community at Countesswells.
The plans were narrowly backed by councillors in August, but the application was referred to a meeting of the full council on Wednesday for a final decision.
However, with just days to go before members vote on the scheme, Heron Property has revealed plans to alter the main access route which do not have the backing of their consortium partners.
Under the current proposals, there is one all-vehicle access, solely off the Jessiefield junction on the A944 Aberdeen-Alford road.
Heron Property has come up with a new proposal for two different routes off the A944 at Kingswells and Jessiefield.
Concerns had been raised by three local community councils that the original road would cut through an area earmarked as an extension for the garden of remembrance at the crematorium.
Heron Property said the new route would “entirely avoid” the crematorium, and is making councillors aware of the new proposal before next week’s meeting.
The company’s property director, Paul Mulholland, said: “We are delighted to be bringing forward proposals that will allow a better access solution to the Countesswells development, delivering a considerable benefit to local communities and avoiding the garden of remembrance, which we know is a highly sensitive issue.”
Heron Property said a planning application would be lodged later this year, following a period of consultation.
The Countesswells project includes primary and secondary schools, shops, leisure facilities and land for employment use. The 410-acre farmland site lies between Bieldside to the south and Kingswells to the north.
The UK Treasury has also guaranteed an £80million loan to help finance the development as part of a nationwide scheme to boost private investment in infrastructure.
The Stewart Milne Group declined to comment.