Developers are poised to build almost 100 new homes in Inverurie – despite neighbours’ fears this could lead to excessive traffic in an area full of pupils.
The new £28 million development will be erected in the north of the Garioch town, and consist of 95 houses – including a number of affordable homes.
It comes after developers Cala Homes previously sold out their 57-home development, The Grove, in Inverurie.
What are the plans for new Inverurie homes?
The plans include 40 four-bedroom homes, 31 five-bedroom homes, and 24 “new affordable homes”.
Cala Homes say that following talks with the council who insisted on the need for affordable homes, the project will now include 12 one-bedroom cottage flats.
The Westhill-based developers have previously had plans for the site rejected over not meeting the local authority’s minimum 40% quality open space policy.
But new plans show that the development will have just enough green space to please councillors.
Have there been any objections?
However, those living nearby the new Conglass site have expressed some concerns.
Some pointed towards the already “huge pressure” on schools in the area, and surrounding roads being “unfit for purpose”.
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Mhairi Gruba objected to the plans, writing to the council: “With this number of houses planned, it can only become more pressured.”
Meanwhile, Sean Breen feared that having only one entrance on Balhalgardy Rise to the development could cause huge problems down the line.
Mr Breen stated: “It is not only impractical to have one road serving so many residents, but it could also be dangerous.”
Inverurie Community Council also objected to the new homes, warning that the abundance of “dead space” could present an “adverse security risk”.
What did councillors say when presented with the papers?
Despite these concerns, however, members of the Garioch area committee voted to approve the proposals – providing the developers make a few tweaks to the plans.
After reviewing the papers, councillors echoed the residents’ concerns over the excessive amount of traffic the new development would add to the area.
And they requested that Cala adds an extra crossing to ensure the safety of children trying to get to the nearby school or to the town centre.
Before giving her vote of support, committee chairwoman Marion Ewenson said: “I have grave concerns about the safe routes to school.
“There would be an extra 100 cars maybe coming from there, which has implications for children crossing the roads. I would like to see some mitigation on that.”
‘We need affordable homes sooner rather than later’
Councillors David Keating wasn’t pleased with the proposed access road to the development either – but he had bigger concerns over the timescale for the project.
Under the blueprints, construction work on the affordable homes will begin once the 64th house has been erected – – which Mr Keating said is “too late”.
He added: “The access doesn’t feel great, but I guess with the passing place proposed and proper connections, we can live with it – even though it’s not ideal.
“The biggest concern for me is the timeline we’ve been given about the creation of the affordable housing – this needs to be completed way earlier than suggested.
The project was eventually approved, under the condition that the developers build affordable homes earlier than initially proposed.
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