Fresh plans have been submitted for a 500-home development and a supermarket on the outskirts of one of Aberdeenshire’s biggest towns.
The proposals for Mill of Forest, near Stonehaven, have been lodged to Aberdeenshire Council after local councillors rejected plans for 1,500 homes last year.
The development would also bring a business park and a large-scale supermarket to the town, with the latter amenity sought after by many local people.
However, residents have raised concerns around issues such as flooding, visual impact and the knock-on effect on local schools and resources.
The Mill of Forest site would also include the construction of a new bridge across the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road near Stonehaven.
Drum Property Group and Barratt North Scotland are behind the plans for the development which would include 125 affordable homes.
Chris Ross, senior land manager at Barratt North Scotland, said: “We have listened carefully to the views of the local community over the last few years and what is very clear is that there is a real need to start delivering a mix of homes to match all incomes within the area.
“Whilst we have reduced our proposed homes from 1,500 to 500, we are fully committed to delivering 125 affordable homes to start to address the current imbalance.”
He added Mill of Forest would be “a sustainable and sympathetic expansion of the town, allowing it to thrive and flourish”.
Fife Hyland, of Drum Property Group, said Mill of Forest would “deliver a much-needed supermarket for the local community” and increase “trade for existing businesses and services in the town”.
However a spokesman for the Stonehaven and District Community Council said there were concerns about flooding and the impact on local infrastructure including Dunnottar and Mill o’ Forest primaries.
He added: “Even affordable homes are not affordable to some people. This is a term being thrown about by developers and politicians.
“There would be pressure on Stonehaven’s resources. The other thing we have got is potential flood issues. We have got two developments on both sides of the road. Carron Den is on the nearside and the Mill of Forest on the other.”