Fresh flooding fears have emerged amid plans to expand a Mearns business park.
Bancon Developments and Dunecht Estates want to extend Stonehaven Business Park at East Newtonleys.
The 17-acre site is located off the A92 Stonehaven to Montrose road, and would have space for offices, industrial units and warehouses.
However, Stonehaven and District Community Council has united with neighbouring Catterline, Kineff and Dunnottar Community Council in voicing flood fears for the site, which neighbours the Glasslaw Burn.
The stream is a tributary of the Carron Water, which burst its banks in 2009 and 2012, causing severe damage to properties in Stonehaven.
A new roundabout onto the A92 from the business park would be constructed as part of the plans, which council officials have recommended for approval.
Bancon and Dunecht Estates are also working on plans for a supermarket and leisure facilities at Braehead, neighbouring the business park development.
Phil Mills-Bishop, vice chairman of the Stonehaven and District Community Council, said the application involved “particular flooding issues”.
He insisted the plans “should be checked by an independent hydrologist”, and said the developer should give a “greater degree of confidence” to the residents in the lower part of Stonehaven.
But last night Bancon’s planning director, Harry McNab said: “We hope to develop 20 sites of around an acre each. We anticipate that when fully developed around 400 job opportunities might be created.
“A quite detailed flood risk assessment has been undertaken as part of the planning submission.
“One of its main proposals is that to mitigate flood risk, we divert as much of the run-off from the site towards the sea – rather
than discharging it into the River Carron.”
Stephen Archer, director of infrastructure services for Aberdeenshire Council, said its flood prevention unit had no objections to the proposed development, but had requested a sustainable urban drainage system be put in place at the site.
In his report to the Kincardine and Mearns area committee, Mr Archer also notes SEPA has no objections.
Councillors will discuss the plans at their meeting in Stonehaven on Tuesday.