Fresh plans to create a village at an Aberdeenshire quarry have been unveiled.
Around 1,500 homes could be built at Park Quarry, near Drumoak, along with a community facilities such as a school, sports hall, library or health centre.
A new business park would also be created at the edge of the village, which would be known as Kincluny.
The project has been in the pipeline for years but after consulting with the public and stakeholders in 2011, site owners Chap Group has now come back with refined plans.
Residents will get the chance to view the revised proposals at a consultation in Drumoak later this month.
Douglas Thomson, joint managing director of the Chap Group, said last night: “Over the last four years we have sought to carefully design a new village that places great importance not only to the unique setting of the site but significantly pays due regard to the character of the local and wider Deeside area.
“As well as addressing the feedback received from the local community in the new proposals, it has also been vitally important for us to look at the mix of housing to be provided as well as a range of community facilities and employment opportunities that could exist within the new community.”
A third of the proposed houses would be affordable, which the firm hope will help tackle Aberdeenshire Council’s waiting list, which was at nearly 14,000 earlier this year.
Joint managing director Hugh Craigie said the plans had been drawn up with the aim of “protecting and preserving” the character of Deeside while providing opportunities for families and businesses.
However, local resident David Morrish raised concerns about the impact such a large development would have on the roads.
The former local community councillor said: “This is not in the development plan so personally I can’t see any reason why such a large development would be acceptable, not least because of the traffic on North and South Deeside Roads, which is already being added to by building work in Banchory, Crathes and Blairs.
“Most people that commute on that road consider that such a large number of houses would be mad, the infrastructure just isn’t there.”
The public exhibition will be held on Wednesday, June 24 from 4pm-8pm at Drumoak Church Hall.