New homes proposed for Barhill Road area of Buckie
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A Moray-based housing is aiming to build upwards of 50 houses in the Barhill Road area of Buckie.
Springfield Properties has informed Moray Council of its plans by presenting what's known as a planning application notice (PAN) today.
The idea behind a PAN is that councillors and the wider community get to raise potential issues in the hope that these can be ironed out before the developer makes a formal application for planning permission.
The proposed development was discussed earlier today at the local authority's planning committee.
Speaking at the meeting, senior planning officer Lisa McDonald said: "We have no details at present - not even the number of units has been confirmed – but it would be a large housing development with the associated infrastructure that goes along with it."
The meeting heard that a separate Springfield proposal to build 108 houses nearby had, after going to appeal, been granted planning permission.
Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) raised several matters, including current drainage problems that leave surface water on Barhill Road, plus safety concerns connected to its junction with the A98.
She said: "You'll note there have been a couple of accidents at that junction and round about that area.
"The impact of excess traffic is really worrying.
"Also, people are raising the issue of schools and doctors and dentist surgeries.
"In addition, what are doing about public transport? It's a long way from this area to the centre of Buckie."
Marc Macrae (Fochabers/Lhanbryde), who chaired today's meeting, said: "May I echo that. Connectivity is a big issue, especially in the light of Stagecoach having cut quite a number of bus services."
Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen) shared cllr Warren's concerns about the junction.
He said: "As regular user of the A98 it is a pretty dodgy junction. I think planning officers need to take a very close look at that.
"It may well be that traffic lights have to be considered on that junction.
"I would prefer traffic lights to a roundabout because, as we can see in Elgin, that just leads to a free-for-all."
