House hunters who thought they had found their dream property have had their hopes dashed after the developer was forced to put the project on hold.
Stewart Milne Homes has said it is currently unable to progress with its Den View development at Kingswells as it does not yet own the land – despite marketing it and accepting reservations from buyers six months ago.
Plans for the scheme, which will contain a variety of 97 luxury homes, were approved in February.
But now eight buyers who snapped up the first available plots have been told by Stewart Milne that “outstanding issues” with the landowner means the development can not go ahead as planned.
Last night the developer said it was an “unfortunate” situation, but that the firm had been in regular contact with potential buyers to warn them of delays.
Oil and gas project engineer Lex Hall had reserved a £350,000 three-bedroom house back in March, re-mortgaging his current home in Queens Road to finance the purchase.
The 54-year-old said: “Now I am left with no house, a re-mortgage and a pathetic letter from Stewart Milne saying sorry.
“I was told the house would be completed in January or maybe December because of the good weather
“I got a letter in June saying there was to be a delay due to a land issue and that I could withdraw. I said I was disappointed but I would stick with it.
“Now I have been told it is not going ahead when I committed to them six or seven months ago.
“I don’t think you should market a development in this way when you don’t even have the land. It is very frustrating and disappointing to be let down like this.”
Another woman who reserved a property in February said she was not made aware of any potential issues regarding land or planning at the time of committing to the property.
The businesswoman, who did not want to be named, said: “It is really disappointing. How can anyone have confidence now that when they reserve a house that it will actually be built?”
Of the eight homebuyers poised to move to Den View, two have been offered another property at Stewart Milne developments in the area.