Development of a multi-million-pound Montrose business park can move ahead after transport chiefs agreed to remove the barrier of a suspensive Laurencekirk junction condition which could have held up the project for years.
The John Lawrie Group plan for the major development on the Angus town’s former airfield suffered a major blow when Transport Scotland suggested a condition preventing the project going ahead until the long-awaited £24 million grade-separated junction at on the A90 at Laurencekirk is complete.
The plan for the 50-hectare scheme includes substantial office accommodation and associated facilities to support offshore renewable energy developments.
Transport Scotland highlighted “significant safety concerns” arising from the predicted increase of traffic through the A90/A937 junction to the business park, but Angus councillors set themselves on a collision course with Scottish Ministers after moving to remove the controversial clause – setting up the prospect of a call-in for the application.
It has now emerged that a compromise condition has been drawn up by the Scottish Government which will require the applicant to set out a detailed programme for the phasing of work within the expansive Charleton Road site – including the roads infrastructure – but with no suspensive consideration in relation to the Laurencekirk crossing.
The matter came before Angus development standards committee again this week when councillors heard that the applicant is satisfied with the Scottish Government’s suggestion condition and members agreed unanimously to attach it to the application approval.
Committee convener Rob Murray said: “If we don’t accept any condition at all then it is likely to be called in and all we would be doing it delaying the application further.
“I think the suggested condition is reasonable, it will allow the developer to market the development locally, which is one of the concerns that was raised when it was before us previously.
“My feeling was that a sledgehammer was being used to crack a nut with the previous condition.”
Consultants are to be appointed to take forward the next phases of the planned upgrade including a route option assessment and the development of preferred junction option, leading to the preparation of draft road orders.
Aberdeenshire and Angus Councils, Nestrans and Transport Scotland will be involved in the discussions and consider issues such as developer contributions for the scheme.
