Planning bosses have backed proposals to build 600 homes in a growing Aberdeenshire community.
The Kintore Consortium – made up of three local developers – wants to construct the houses to the east of the town, along with a neighbourhood centre that would provide residents with much-needed amenities.
On Tuesday, the Garioch area committee will be asked to grant planning permission in principle for the scheme, known as Kintore East.
Aberdeenshire Council’s planning service supports the project – but says no houses should be occupied before Kintore’s much-needed second primary school is open, or before 2017.
As well as the housing, the 207-acre site would include a neighbourhood centre which may feature shops and services such as a medical centre, community centre or care home.
Due to the scale of the development – involving Barratt Scotland, Kirkwood Homes and Malcolm Allan Housebuilders – the existing Broomhill roundabout would have to be remodelled.
In a report, director of infrastructure services Stephen Archer acknowledges the houses are not due to be built until 2017-21, but says planning permission in principle should be granted now due to the major works that would have to be brought forward to support the scheme.
He points out that the neighbourhood centre, which is at the northern entrance to the site, is due to be built first and adds: “On balance, it is considered that an early release of the development land to allow major infrastructure to take place prior to 2017, but no housing, would be justified.
“It is recommended that no dwelling houses are occupied prior to both the opening of the new Kintore primary school and not before the start of the second phase of housing land allocations (2017-21). This will enable the community and neighbourhood facilities to commence and to allow the significant infrastructure to begin.”
Last night, a spokesman for the Kintore Consortium said: “The consortium welcome the recommendation to approve their planning application for 600 new homes at Kintore, which following approval of their masterplan by the council earlier this year is a major step forward to bringing forward the development of the Kintore East site.”