An Aberdeenshire village will remain at its current size after councillors yesterday shot down plans to increase its population by half.
Developers had hoped to see proposals for 113 new homes at Tarves backed by members of Formartine area committee.
They already had council planners in their corner, with officials recommending the Scotia Homes plan be approved.
Elected members were unconvinced by the scheme merits, however, citing concerns about the scale of the plans and the lack of accompanying amenities.
A key issue for some councillors was an area of land identified for employment in a 2016 masterplan for a site to the west of the village but not included in the final proposal.
Local councillor Paul Johnston acknowledged that the application had caused some concern locally, but said his main concern was that the application did not reflect that original plan.
He said: “This doesn’t provide for amenities as originally outlined, and doesn’t provide for a sustainable development.”
Councillor Jim Gifford agreed, saying: “This was originally taken forward as a mixed use development but this is not that.”
There were dissenting voices, with Councillor Anne Stirling telling the committee: “We cannot expect every time to be presented with exactly what was in the masterplan.
“It varies. It cannot always be 100% a mirror image.”
Councillors eventually voted by six to four to refuse planning permission.
The proposed development would have seen the population rise by half of its current figure of around 950.
It was greeted with 66 objections, including one from Tarves community council.
Objectors thought the growth would be too substantial and were concerned at the lack of accompanying services and community facilities.
Concerns over road safety and potential overcrowding at Tarves primary school were also raised.
Aberdeenshire Council’s school roll forecast demonstrated that although the primary school might cope with rising numbers if the development were approved, the growing number of pupils at Meldrum Academy would potentially mean children being reallocated to other secondary schools.
Councillors were recommended to give the proposals the seal of approval via a delegated grant, subject to conditions such as footpath connectivity from the adjacent Duthie Road and an energy statement which would highlight the reduction in carbon dioxide emission rates.
Scotia Homes were yesterday unable to comment on the blow.
