An Aberdeenshire community has united against proposals for a 1,500-home village on the banks of the River Dee.
The plans by Chap Group for Kincluny Village on the site of Park Quarry, just south of Drumoak, have been met with 76 objections from locals.
Leading the objectors is the Crathes, Drumoak and Durris Community Council, who believe the development goes against the firm’s own promise to return the site back to farmland once the quarry reached the end of its life.
Locals have voiced fears for local roads and the impact of the proposals on the neighbouring River Dee.
A number of organisations including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have also objected to the plans.
However Chap Group said the proposals are an opportunity to “regenerate” the land and address a shortfall of homes in Aberdeenshire.
Douglas Thomson, the firm’s joint managing director, also said the company would stand by its commitment to reinstate the land as a greenfield site if planing permission was not obtained.
The development would include shops, cafes, recreational facilities and 10 acres of dedicated employment land, whilst 500 of the homes have been earmarked as affordable.
Maxine Smith, vice-chairwoman of the community council, said the application “disregards and disrespects” the Scottish planning process.
She added: “This application creates a smoke screen over the real issues, and one must seriously question why developers like this are afforded the right to simply lodge irrelevant development applications in order to avoid having to reinstate previously agreed planning conditions.
“Park Quarry should have already significantly progressed with its reinstatement back to a greenfield site.
“It is clear that the quarry operator has no intention to comply with the planning condition stipulations.”
Mr Thomson added Chap Group is working hard to resolve the concerns raised.
He said: “We are fully aware that whilst the Park Quarry site is not allocated within the proposed Aberdeenshire local development plan (LDP), the proposals provide a real opportunity to regenerate not only a brownfield site in the heart of Deeside but assist the council in addressing a shortfall in number of homes actually delivered under their own LDP.”
Mr Thomson added the development would provide the “required infrastructure and facilities” for Kincluny Village and the surrounding area.