Plans to push ahead with the first phase of a £140million north-east housing development have stalled.
Planners at Aberdeenshire Council had urged members of the Formartine area committee to back a 48-home Blackdog development when they met yesterday.
But councillors criticised developers Ashfield Land and Kirkwood Homes – who bought the site from landowner Colin Tawse earlier this year – for not providing a fresh masterplan for the site.
They deferred making a decision on the housing plans for a site visit.
Democratic independent councillor Paul Johnston said: “It is about whether it is or isn’t similar to the other masterplan. It’s a public issue – you need to see both.”
His comments were echoed by Conservative councillor Gillian Owen who said the committee members met with the new developer on Monday.
“We haven’t seen the new masterplan,” she said. “The 48-houses that are on the agenda today are based on the old masterplan, not the new. That was the crux of the matter.”
The proposals for one, two, three and four-bedroom homes at Hareburn Terrace have attracted 54 objections from locals concerned about pollution, drainage and road infrastructure.
The masterplan also includes controversial provisions for a travellers stopover site, as required in the local development plan.