Proposals for a retirement village in the west of Aberdeen have been voted through by councillors.
Members of the planning committee voted seven to two in favour of granting planning permission in principle for Cults Property Group’s vision.
The outline proposals for the fields and scrubland on Inchgarth Road include a 50-bed care home, 95 homes and a mix of community and retail space.
Ahead of yesterday’s vote, planning officers had warned councillors they could risk setting a precedent for further green belt development if they backed the scheme, while concern was raised for the felling of 75 trees to make way for it.
But nearly 300 residents joined the Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber Community Council in vocally supporting the plans given the promise of a new road to end the use of existing streets as rat-runs.
Estimated to cost the developers around £3 million, it would link Inchgarth Road and North Deeside Road – taking traffic away from the narrow Pitfodels Station Road and Westerton Road.
Developer Charlie Ferrari said: “We feel the proposal for a community-led retirement village is the right use for this area and we are providing the council with a new link road.
“We now need to come forward with the detail of the individual residential units to make sure we have the right mix, and to ensure we plan to build the care home in the right way.”