A housebuilder has lost its bid to make Moray Council cover its appeal costs after a dispute over a rejected application.
Springfield Properties immediately vowed to make the authority foot the bill when it threw out the firm’s plans for Ferrylea in Forres in October last year.
The council’s planning committee rejected the proposals for 316 homes in the south of the town due to an increase in the number of units from an approved masterplan.
Dave Main, Springfield’s north managing director,said the decision would also delay plans to build 42 student flats for the same site, which are dependent on the infrastructure of the housing project.
The council’s rejection came despite officials recommending the development be given planning permission.
The Scottish Government later overturned the decision despite the changes after reporter David Liddell concluded the plans were not “inappropriate”.
However, now the Holyrood planner has rejected the company’s application to have their expenses covered amid claims from the housebuilder of “unreasonable conduct” that caused them unnecessary costs.
Mr Liddell has concluded that the authority acted “reasonably” while making its decision.
Meanwhile, an agreement has been made between Moray Council and Springfield to contribute to the extra burden on local services as a result of the added population.
The £1.7million payment will be ringfenced by the authority to support dental services, the local health centre, pharmacies, schools, sport facilities, public transport and road improvements in the area.