Proposals for a temporary construction access to serve a housing development in Ellon have been turned down.

Barratt Homes and Scotia Homes have permission to build 247 homes at the town’s Castle Meadows.

Permission for the scheme had included an access road from Ellon’s Golf Road through Caroline’s Well Woods and a small section of green space at Ellon Academy to serve the development.

Further consideration of the access highlighted this could not be permitted under a charter protecting the woods, managed by Formartine Area Committee in its role as trustee of the land.

As a result, the developers sought approval for a variation of the permission to allow temporary construction access along the route. The route would then be changed to a permanent cycle path and footpath.

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At a meeting of the Formartine Area Committee last week, members were asked to consider the request in their role as trustees, having visited the site. Following discussions and a vote, the request was refused.

Formartine Area Committee chair Cllr John Loveday said: "This is a sensitive matter and the committee has been faced with balancing the request from the developers with the requirements of the charter.

"Although there was some support for approving the request in principle, it was decided after a vote that the proposed route and design would have an unacceptably detrimental impact on the amenity of the woodlands."

As the route would have crossed a small section of council-owned green space at Ellon Academy, the committee considered this aspect of the request in their formal role as the Formartine Area Committee. This too was rejected.

A separate planning report concerning the application for the construction access and the variation of a number of conditions attached to the existing planning consent is expected to come before the next meeting of the Formartine Area Committee.

(GK)