Councillors will decide today whether to approve the expansion of a north-east town.
Scotia Homes has lodged plans to build 26 homes at Inverugie Meadows in Peterhead, but neighbours have objected amid fears the buildings would loom over their properties.
Members of the Buchan area committee, which will rule on the scheme, had earlier postponed making a decision to visit the site for themselves a second time.
An initial visit was plagued by poor weather which made it difficult for the councillors to survey the scene properly.
But discussions on the application will reach their conclusion this morning and planning chiefs have backed it.
In his report, Stephen Archer, the council’s director of infrastructure services, said concerns from nearby neighbours were not sufficient to block the development.
He added: “It is not considered the proposed dwellings would raise significant issues of overshadowing or overbearing [on other houses].
“It is acknowledged that a level of shadowing would occur during the winter months, but this is not deemed un-ordinary in a housing scheme nor unacceptable.”
Nine letters of objection were submitted to the planning service about the proposal.
In one, Graham Stephen, who lives behind the site, said his household “strongly” objected to the plan.
He added: “The site is behind our home and is on an elevated piece of ground. If built, the proposed two-storey houses will be overpowering and compromise our privacy.
“We would urge Aberdeenshire Council to reject the proposal.”
In another letter, Steven Harris, who also lives nearby, added: “The degree of overlook and impact on my privacy is unnecessary, excessive and wholly unacceptable.”
Neighbour Jacqueline Stephen argued that she had lived in the area for six years and had “assured” that any homes built nearby would not intrude on her privacy.
She said: “The new two-storey houses will be far too overpowering,” she said.
“We believe that building these new house types is an invasion of our privacy, as our living room, dining room and bedrooms are all at the rear of our property.”
