The next phase of development at an expanding Aberdeenshire industrial estate is one step closer to fruition.
Planning permission in principle was granted for work to begin on phase three of Westhill’s Arnhall Industrial estate by the Garioch Area Committee earlier this week.
The next stage in the site’s development will involve a triangular space of land between the A944 Aberdeen to Alford road, Prospect Road and the B9119 Westhill to Tarland road.
However, the development has only been approved on the grounds that the local community work with the developers to redesign the proposed A944-facing grey facades on three of the planned industrial units.
Ten industrial buildings, each comprising of workshops, offices, yards and car parks, are set to be built by Knight Property Group.
Westhill and District councillor David Aitchison said he was concerned people travelling to Westhill would be greeted with “a blank wall” on arrival.
The SNP councillor added: “There’s surely some way of doing this so that it is more attractive rather than the area of blank wall we’ll be greeted with.”
Mr Aitchison and fellow Westhill and District councillor, Ron McKail, moved for a deferral of the plans due to their objections to the designs.
However an amendment went through by a vote of seven to two.
East Garioch councillor Martin Ford said the designs matched that of the rest of the Westhill industrial estate.
He said: “I don’t think it’s great architecture, I think it’s acceptable and realistic. I’d like something wonderful too and I have to say if you pass through Westhill you see buildings that are commercial, industrial buildings.”
Scots pine trees are to be planted beside the buildings on the A944-facing side, but councillors were worried that the trees could take many years to overshadow the grey walls.
East Garioch SNP councillor Hamish Vernal said: “It seems there is an opportunity to do something with these buildings. They are never going to be Marischal College but they don’t have to be blank walls.”
The plans were granted on the condition that local artists and community groups be allowed to submit ideas for artwork on the walls.
Planning permission in principal has also been granted to the rest of the land at Arnhall Industrial Estate specified for phase three of the development.