A north-east councillor has warned that communities will “dwindle and die” if new developments in the area are stalled by legal wrangling.
Councillor Jim Ingram’s stark warning comes as Aberdeenshire Council planners recommend that a huge business park in his village of Mintlaw be blocked.
Plans for the business park in the north-east’s largest village – a proposal developers believe could bring hundreds of jobs – will go before committee this week.
But the proposals are set to be knocked back because there is no approved masterplan for the site at Nether Aden.
It is understood that a behind-the-scenes legal dispute between two landowners has delayed the production of a masterplan.
Now Mr Ingram says he hopes the issue can be resolved for the benefit of the community.
He said last night: “I get queries from business people all the time looking for small and medium units in Mintlaw.
“It’s a healthy need – it means jobs and it brings wealth to the community in general. Communities have got to grow otherwise they can dwindle and die.
“I hope things get resolved because there will be knock on effects on housing developments.”
The plans, submitted by Bancon Developments, are for seven office and warehouse units spread over a 12-acre business park site.
More than 200 car parking spaces have been earmarked in the proposals, and a new roundabout would be created on the A952 Cortes to Toll of Birness road to allow access to the park.
The Banchory-based company has previously said its proposals could bring up to 500 jobs to the village.
In a report to Buchan councillors, local authority planning officer Stuart Murison says: “That by virtue of the lack of an approved Masterplan covering the site as required in the Local Development Plan site designation, the application is considered to be premature.”
The report stresses that the principle of a major business park development on the Nether Aden site is acceptable, but that without a clear masterplan of how the park would be laid out it contravenes current planning policy.
Mr Ingram was at pains to say he does not blame Aberdeenshire Council planners for the hold up.
He added: “I don’t criticise the planners – it’s down to the councillors.
“We play a part in setting planning policy, and it may be that in upholding the policy the planners are going against their hearts.”
The proposals will be considered by councillors at tomorrow’s Buchan Area Committee meeting.