Plans for a massive housing expansion in Fraserburgh were given a boost yesterday as councillors agreed the masterplan for the project.
The multimillion-pound development, lead by Fraserburgh firm Claymore Homes, could lead to the construction of 590 homes as well as business units and playing fields.
The site lies to the west of Fraserburgh, near Boothby Road, Watermill Road and the B9031 Fraserburgh-Pennan road.
The masterplan for the Merryhillock scheme was agreed by councillors at yesterday’s Banff and Buchan Area Committee meeting in the north-east town paving the way for work to begin early next year.
The plans were met with unanimous approval from the gathered members. Independent councillor for Fraserburgh and District Ian Tait said: “I’m very supportive of this masterplan for the Merryhillock development.
“It provides the opportunity for much needed housing expansion in Fraserburgh.”
That sentiment was shared by ward colleague and SNP councillor Brian Topping who said: I’m very pleased with how things are moving forward, and that the public have had their input.”
Fellow SNP councillor Charles Buchan threw his support behind the scheme but questioned why the required affordable housing could be produced off site. Claymore will firm this up in future plans.
New aerial artists’ impressions were shown to the committee with the housing plots moved to the west of the site due to concerns over a flood risk.
It was also stressed that these initial impressions are ‘indicative’ of what the site could look like and that more formal architectural plans would be also presented with individual planning applications as they come in.
It is understood the first of these planning applications could reach Aberdeenshire Council planning chiefs in the coming weeks with Claymore ready to submit a detailed application for 55 units.
These new homes are being built to meet growing demand as Aberdeen commuters are priced out of the housing markets in villages like Ellon.
Earlier this year, Fraserburgh topped a league table showing the rising price of property in seaside towns across the UK.
Fraserburgh, Cove Bay, Peterhead, Inverbervie and Stonehaven took the top five places in the study, based on official government figures.
In Fraserburgh, the average house price had risen to £129,325, up 141% from £53,641 in 2004.