Residents of a north-east town have voiced their shock at a council decision to back a major housing expansion.
Members of the Garioch area committee approved proposals for new developments in Newmachar, despite a warning from planning officers that the area had enough homes already.
The committee’s recommendations will now go to Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee, which will make a final decision on whether the sites are included in the new local development plan.
Chairman of Newmachar community council, Rev Douglas McNab, said: “The decision shocked the community council. We do not think more housing is required.
“There are already two sites, one to the east and one to the west of Newmachar, that were included in the last local development plan and no work has started on either.”
There is currently provision for 465 additional houses in Newmachar. The two new developer sites favoured by the area committee could accommodate a further 495 homes.
