Aberdeenshire councillors have given the go-ahead to plans for an oil firm’s relocation to a new home seven miles away.
Proposals for workshops, offices and a car park at Midmill Business Park in Kintore were yesterday approved by Aberdeenshire Council’s Garioch area committee.
An oil firm – thought to be National Oilwell Varco (Nov) – will be relocating to the area from neighbouring Westhill.
Yesterday the developer behind the plans, Inverurie-based Malcolm Allan Housebuilders, said the decision means 340 jobs would be moved to the area.
The location – on former farmland – was allocated within the 2012 Aberdeenshire local development plan (LDP).
Senior council planner, Bruce Strachan, said the council’s planning service were “satisfied” with the application, adding it “will have no significant detrimental impact on the landscape”.
There were no objections to the plans from locals.
Chairman of the committee, Fergus Hood, said: “I certainly welcome this large application to further develop the Midmill Industrial Estate in Kintore.
“It is clearly going to bring employment, and although there may not be new jobs, it will transfer a large number of jobs to the Kintore area.
“I am personally content with the recommendations the planning service has brought forward.”
However councillor Richard Cowling raised concerns about a proposed signalised junction at Tumulus Way, included within the plans.
He said there had been “serious congestion” in the area between Kintore and the Broomhill roundabout on the A96 Aberdeen to Inverurie road, caused by temporary traffic lights at the spot in recent years.
Mr Cowling added: “Putting traffic lights in here, I would have serious concerns.”
A spokesman for the developers said: “Malcolm Allan Housebuilders are delighted that the Garioch Area Committee have supported proposals for a large addition to the successful Midmill Business Park.
“The facilities are designed to bring up to 320 jobs to the Kintore area and the development itself will support as many as 100 construction-related jobs over the next couple of years.
“We see it as a positive sign for the north-east economy that a leading international specialist oilfield equipment manufacturer has made a long-term commitment to new facilities in our area at this time.”
The committee agreed to grant full planning permission to the proposals.