This week’s decision to ditch plans for the Western Link Road could put plans to expand Elgin in doubt.
The council, which had already plunged £3.65million into planning the route, may have to spend £2.7million in buying back land from developers who purchased it on the understanding the relief route would be built.
The cash-strapped authority also faces the “strong likelihood” it will have to refund £625,000 in developer contributions.
Mr Cree said he would work tirelessly over the next week to ensure any costs the council suffered as a result of Wednesday’s decision were minimal.
Developer Springfield Properties has lodged plans to massively expand the south of the town, which were reliant on the route being completed.
The firm aims to build a 12-acre sports centre and hundreds of homes in the area.
Yesterday, the group’s managing director highlighted “increasing concern” about how Elgin could accommodate a burgeoning population without new infrastructure being added.
Innes Smith said: “The fact remains that there is just one bridge crossing the railway in the centre of Elgin, and that Edgar Road is well established as Elgin’s commercial centre.
“As the north of Elgin is developed there will be increasing concern about the large volumes of traffic crossing this bridge to access Edgar Road and its shops.
“It remains to be seen how this traffic will be managed.”
Last year, Moray Council planning experts predicted development in Elgin would suffer without the new route. A spokesman said: “The area’s local development plan shows that any developments in the south of Elgin would be constrained without the provision of the Western Link Road.”
