Councillors have refused a north-east house builder’s request to expand a 840-home development to the south of Aberdeen.
Developers Stewart Milne Homes applied to have the cap on the scheme at Schoolhill, Portlethen, removed but objections were lodged due to fears that local amenities would not be able to cope.
Yesterday, Kincardine and Mearns councillors unanimously refused the application but Stewart Milne say they will appeal the decision.
Plans for the development were first lodged with the council in 2000 and full planning permission was granted in December 2004.
Yesterday, councillor Ian Mollison said: “In 2000 it was approved that it would be 840 houses and some 14 years later; surprise, surprise, there is some new land.
“How can we have any confidence with it being 180 units?”
More than 30 objections were received, including from Portlethen and District, North Kincardine Rural and Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore community councils.
North Kincardine councillor Alastair Bews said that even though a new school is due to open in Portlethen in August 2016, the existing primary is already over-subscribed.
He said: “The figure is 349 so it is already over the maximum capacity.
“The role forecast at the end of 2014 is 497 and this is without any additional housing.”
John Low, managing director of Stewart Milne Homes, said: “We are extremely disappointed in the council’s decision and will absolutely be appealing it.”
For a development of this size, around 25% would be required to be classed as affordable housing but Mr Low insists yesterday’s decision means Stewart Milne Homes will no longer be able to provide these on time.
He said: “This decision now means that we cannot provide the much needed affordable homes we had planned for the Portlethen community within the time frames planned.
“The appeal process will commence as soon as we can however, while I am disappointed that we have to pursue this route I am confident of the eventual outcome given that the land is already zoned for housing development.”