Masterplan for Aldi site in Macduff approved by councillors
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A masterplan for land in Macduff where an Aldi supermarket is proposed to be sited has been approved by councillors.
The Banff and Buchan area committee assessed the proposal, which also includes a 22-home housing development and potential for a healthcare facility, at its meeting on Tuesday.
Councillors were in favour of the masterplan and it was granted.
Aldi’s original planning application for a new supermarket on the site was approved by Aberdeenshire Council in August 2022, however this decision was legally challenged in January this year via a Judicial Review from Tesco.
As a result of this process, the planning permission previously granted for the new food store was quashed.
Aldi then unveiled a new masterplan for the Duff Street site in April and subsequently held a public consultation in the town's Buchan Street Hall.
In the report that went before councillors at their meeting on Tuesday they were recommended to agree the masterplan, which must be granted in advance of the determination of any future planning application.
This is to ensure that Aberdeenshire Council’s aspirations for the site set out in its Local Development Plan are fully met.
Senior planner Bruce Strachan told the meeting: "There is a recent planning history to the site but this masterplan process is a separate entity that follows on from the Local Development Plan and comes before the determination of any planning application for the site.
"It is understood that the applicant wishes the existing planning application to be reconsidered but, for the avoidance of doubt, this process has not begun and will not begin until there is an agreed masterplan for the site.
"The planning service is satisfied that the proposed masterplan is a well considered response to the site and to the allocations.
"The content and level of detail has been subject to some discussion and is felt to be appropriate for this scale of development and for this mix of uses.
"The planning service proposes that the masterplan for the site in Macduff be agreed."
Councillor Ross Cassie said: "I very much welcome this coming forward, it ties up a few loose ends.
"It's a requirement of the Local Development Plan that we have this masterplan put in place.
"There's been consultation with the planning service and the public. Locals are very much in support of this plan.
"I would quite happily move that we accept the recommendations in the report."
Councillor Mark Findlater said: "In the public consultation it was quite clear that 100 per cent of the folk there were in support of this masterplan.
"It does tie up a lot of loose ends, it is a good way forward and I'm fully supportive."
Councillor Richard Menard said: "I'm in total agreement with Councillor Cassie and Councillor Findlater.
"It is something we dearly need in Macduff."
Councillor Cassie's motion to approve the masterplan was seconded by Councillor Menard and agreed by the committee.
A spokesperson for Aldi Stores UK said: “Aldi welcomes the decision made by the Banff and Buchan area committee to approve our proposed masterplan, an important milestone in our aspiration to bring a new store to Macduff.
“Aldi remains fully committed to opening a food store in Macduff and would once again like to thank the local community for their ongoing support.
"Following today’s decision, a revised planning application for the store will be submitted to Aberdeenshire Council over the coming months and we look forward to progressing with these plans and bringing our high-quality, low-cost offer to the town later next year.”
