A group of Deeside residents have vowed to oppose an “outrageous” new plan for 300 homes in their town.
Sandlaw Farming had originally wanted to build 300 rented homes, 75 affordable properties and 25 assisted-living apartments near Scolty Hill at Braehead, south of Banchory.
But the proposals were rejected in June, amid huge opposition from locals, who signed a petition and formed the Stop Scolty Redevelopment group.
Now the company is preparing to submit a revised application, this time just for the 300 rented properties.
The Turriff-based firm say the new homes will help meet demand in the area.
Ken Ross, development consultant to Sandlaw said: “Importantly, our new submission will provide desperately-needed affordable houses for local people, including key workers, at no cost to council tax payers.
“We have the funding in place and could have the first homes occupied within 12 months of receipt of planning consent, with the all the homes occupied within two years. If these houses were to be provided by the public sector it would cost the Scottish
Government around £15million to deliver. We don’t need a penny of public money”.
But the Banchory campaign group has vowed to fight the latest development on the site.
Mike Adams, spokesman for Stop Scolty Redevelopment, said: “Banchory is a small town that has only just approved a 390-home development to the north – this was the result of significant public consultation and work by the council. Any suggestion that 300 additional homes in an area of countryside outwith the town would somehow increase the appeal of Banchory is outrageous.
“The land at Braehead is sandwiched between two of Deeside’s most important landmarks, Scolty Hill and the Falls of Feugh and any development here would detract massively from the value of these sites and Banchory as a whole.
“We will continue to fight these plans which would destroy one of the most loved parts of Deeside.”