The expansion of a Buchan village may yet go ahead after the proposals were resubmitted to authority planners – just hours after it was refused.
The bid to build 19 new houses in Stuartfield by Fraserburgh-based developer Colaren Homes had collapsed on Tuesday amid concerns over road safety.
But last night, the agent for the project, Kevin O’Brien, said he was confident that this “technicality” could be overcome with the new application.
He said: “There was a political will to actually see it approved but we’re having to resubmit it,” he said.
“It’s back in and we expect a positive decision in a couple of months time. It was a mere technicality that unfortunately could not be resolved.”
It had been hoped that the widening of the road could be covered in a separate planning application before work commenced on building the homes. This was not, however, considered competent by planning officers who advised that the plans should be rejected.
The new bid was submitted on the same day that the original was thrown out.
The development, on land next to Knock Street, could now create as many as 75 new homes over the next decade as part of a larger 23-acre master plan programme for the village if approved.
It was widely supported by councillors at the last meeting of the Buchan Area Committee.
During that meeting, Stuartfield councillor Jim Ingram said that a solution was “close”.
“We are fairly close to being able to resolve this – I think an agreement can be reached, but we just need a little bit of time.
“It’s acceptable all-round and I am perfectly in favour of housing applications. I’m just concerned that it rolls on for more than two cycles (of area committee meetings) because we’re talking about people’s jobs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Councillor Norman Smith suggested that the process had been an “unfortunate thing from the word go.”