Campaigners have criticised military chiefs for withdrawing their objection to a controversial housing scheme plan.
Developer Tulloch of Cummingston wants to build 278 homes at Sunbank in Lossiemouth.
The firm’s plans to create an access to the town’s Boyd Anderson Drive via Halliman Way and Fisher Place have been heavily criticised.
And the Ministry of Defence had raised concerns about the height of some of the properties proposed for site.
It was worried about the potential impact on radar systems used to guide fast-jets into RAF Lossiemouth.
But the military body has withdrawn its objection, despite the plans remaining unaltered.
The western edge of the site earmarked for the housing is less than a mile away from the eastern end of the secondary runway at RAF Lossiemouth.
In 2012 the MoD said some homes in the development should be no taller than 10ft, but following further checks it revised its response and said it would be “unnecessary” to alter the height of the buildings.
Now military chiefs are under fire from members of the Stop the BAD Access Route group, which was formed to fight the plans to create a link to Boyd Anderson Drive via Halliman Way and Fisher Place.
The group’s John Hamilton said: “The Ministry of Defence previously said the Sunbank complex could interfere with its precision approach radar system.
“I have a letter from 2012 saying the height of 99 houses was the main issue as far as the MoD was concerned.
“And though the plans have not been adapted in light of that, and the MoD admits houses will be visible to the radar, they have given it the ok.
“The MoD has backtracked completely.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “In 2012 we responded to a pre-application consultation on the proposed site.
“We offered advice, identifying issues that would be relevant to the progression of the scheme.
“Recently we assessed the planning application and sought more detailed information about the buildings, and it was established that the proposed development would not significantly impact upon MoD safeguarding requirements.”
To mitigate any radar interference the MoD has asked that houses in the area do not have metallic garage doors or solar panels and that large birds – which could cause a risk to air traffic – are deterred from the area.
The Sunbank application is likely to be considered by Moray Council in the autumn.
A local authority spokesman said: “All matters will be taken into consideration in determining the application.”
No one at developer Tulloch of Cummingston was available for comment.