New Laurencekirk homes to be built despite A90 safety fears as developer wins appeal

Muir Homes has won an appeal to build 28 new houses in Laurencekirk despite pleas to complete crucial A90 junction upgrades first.

Councillors refused the application back in November 2023, despite it getting the backing of Aberdeenshire Council planning chiefs.

Kincardine and Mearns area committee members argued the homes shouldn’t be built until the vital £24 million flyover was in place. And the proposal didn’t get much support from residents either. A whopping 138 letters of objection opposing to the development were sent to the local authority.

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Those against the plans also wanted to see the A90 junction improvements delivered before the houses.

Residents have been fighting for a new crossing between the A90 Stonehaven to Dundee road and the A937 Laurencekirk to Montrose route for nearly 20 years. They say it is needed to prevent crashes and near-misses on the busy stretch of road. However, Muir Homes lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government in a bid to overturn the refusal.

The homebuilder also claimed Aberdeenshire Council had been “acting in an unreasonable manner”. It believed the local authority failed to give “complete, precise and relevant” reasons for refusing the application.

The firm went one step further and asked that the council pay for the appeal fees. However, reporter Gordon S Reid didn’t agree and stated that no charges will be put to Aberdeenshire Council.

Mr Reid also allowed the homebuilder’s appeal and granted planning permission, subject to a number of conditions. The now approved development will see 21 properties placed for sale on the open market, along with seven affordable homes.

It will include a mix of properties from bungalows to larger five-bedroom family houses similar in design to those already in the town. Meanwhile, three terraced homes and four one-bedroom flats will form the affordable housing.

Access to the site will be taken from Ross Gardens and Ironside View, while a footpath will connect to Miller Circle. Muir Homes argued “attractive, distinctive, welcoming and safe” development will fit in to the existing residential area.