North-east councillors have raised serious concerns about plans for a £100million retail park on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
Aberdeenshire’s infrastructure committee unanimously agreed to submit a “holding objection” to the proposed extension of the Prime Four Business Park in Kingswells.
The 320,000sqft of retail space, which would include a food store, could create hundreds of new jobs.
But the authority’s infrastructure tsar Stephen Archer warned the impact the development could have on neighbouring areas had not been adequately explored.
He told the committee: “The proposed development has the potential to impact upon the viability and vitality of existing town centres and retail provision within Aberdeenshire.”
The applicants themselves had identified Aberdeenshire residents as part of the target market, he suggested, and a formal retail impact assessment had not been done.
His call for the committee to issue an objection was backed unanimously by members.
Councillor Peter Argyle said: “I have to say it is the right moment to put in this objection. We need to be extremely careful that a development on this corridor doesn’t have an impact on an important route into the city.”
Westhill councillor Ron McKail echoed those comments. He said: “This doesn’t give us enough information. This retail development is equal to about five football pitches, it’s massive.”
He added that proposals for a new Aberdeen FC stadium nearby would have a cumulative impact on local residents.
“This is going to create gridlock. Asking us to make a decision is premature.”
A formal letter of objection will now be submitted calling for more information to be provided to Aberdeenshire Council.
