A landowner has launched an ambitious plan to create a massive lake on the outskirts of a north-east village.
Gordon Rennie, who owns land at Bridge of Rora, near Longside, wants to create a six-foot deep pond by the North Ugie Water.
Ellon-based architectural firm Colin Wright Surveyors has made an application on his behalf with Aberdeenshire Council to create the new body of water.
It is proposed that, once established, the pond would be filled with trout which would be fed with small, plant-eating fish.
In his letter to planners, Mr Wright said his client’s land had always flooded to create a small pond and, in order to make the land viable, he intended that the water became a permanent feature to develop a fisheries project.
The land in its current state is unsuitable for growing crops.
Mr Wright added: “This will be designed to accommodate suitable plants that will grow in water to maintain the water quality, promote insects and other small aquatic organisms.
“The pond here is designed to be more natural than, for example, farms in cages on lakes. So, insect growth is promoted by inclusion of the waterborne plants and also in the tree and bush growth adjacent.”
It is proposed the pond would have a surface area of 23,000sqft.
The property at Bridge of Rora has previously been used to breed rare sheep. The project is currently on hold, however, due to recent flooding.
Mr Wright also said that the fields where the sheep are kept also needed re-fenced.
Mr Rennie had previously gained planning permission for an 88ft wind turbine on the land approved in 2012.
In the same year, councillors also granted planning permission for a building to be used for tree planting.
