Councillors have gone against the advice of planners and given a developer permission to revamp plans for a housing scheme in a north-east village.
Fraserburgh-based Colaren Homes had sought approval to increase the number of detached properties at its North Woods project in Mintlaw.
Aberdeenshire Council’s planning team recommended the Buchan area committee reject the move when members met yesterday.
Officials said there was a danger of stigmatising buyers of affordable housing if theirs were the only terraced or semi-detached homes on the estate.
However, the developer successfully argued that the housing market had changed significantly since the masterplan was first agreed in 2013 – and that demand for terraced or semi-detached homes had shrunk.
Members of the committee ruled in favour of Colaren Homes, expressing concerns that plots on the estate might otherwise be left undeveloped.
Councillor Alan Gardiner said: “As a committee, we have got to be seen to react to the situation in the market. To ignore it and just hope these houses will sell is crazy and would be a commercial disaster.”
Councillor and Mintlaw resident Jim Ingram echoed those thoughts. He said: “I previously rebuffed a similar application nine months ago. But a lot has happened since then.”
Mr Ingram said he still believed in an “aspirational need” for affordable homes, but that he would be shocked if the committee allowed plots to go undeveloped.
Gary Purves from property consultant Knight Frank spoke on behalf of the developer. He said: “Colaren has already concluded eight contracts to buy these houses if planning permission is approved.
“There would also be the loss of local skilled labour if it is not approved – the risk is these eight plots would be undeveloped which would detract from the overall attractiveness of a stunning development.”
Councillors, who were told by legal officer Lauren Cowie that economic benefit was not a valid planning reason to approve the applications, insisted the masterplan they agreed two years ago allowed for “flexibility” in construction.
The revisions mean the number of terraced and semi-detached properties on the 100-acre North Street site will fall from 30% to 23%