New houses will be built in the grounds of an Aberdeenshire estate despite concerns about the impact on bats and buzzards.
Cala Homes (North) and Meldrum House Estate have been granted permission from the council to create 36 homes within the grounds of the hotel and golf club.
They will be a mix of four and five-bedroom detached houses – including in new areas such as alongside a stretch of the B9170 Oldmeldrum to Methlick road.
Locals had objected to plans to fell “ancient woodland” to make way for the development and launched a petition opposing the scheme.
They have concerns on how that would affect local wildlife, such as red squirrels, pipistrel bats, buzzards and owls.
Nevertheless, the plans have now been approved by the Formartine area committee.
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Ross Maclennan, land director at Cala Homes, said: “We have worked very closely with Meldrum House Estate and the council over many months to ensure that this collection of homes reflects the prestigious location and is sympathetic to its natural surroundings.”
Work on the new homes is expected to commence later this year.
