A planning application for significant changes to a Montrose development has been lodged.
A retail centre in Brechin Road is under construction, but the developers have had to redraw plans after failing to secure a business for one of the outlets.
The original plans were subject to criticism amid concerns it would move business away from the town centre.
Home Bargains and Farmfoods have already agreed to move into two of the stores in the development at the town’s former distillery.
Originally it was intended for there to be three units, but plans to subdivide the one without a business interest in place into two smaller units have now been lodged, saying it is the “only viable option” for the site.
Costa Coffee and Vets4Pets have stated an interest in smaller units at the development.
The documents states the proposed changes are the “only viable option” to secure a Pets4U store in Montrose and that Costa also intimated there are no suitable sites in the town centre for their needs.
If approved, the 4,000 square feet unit will be made into two units of 2,000 square feet each.
Despite the third building being “extensively marketed” since January 2017, there had been “no firm interest” in the site, precipitating the need for the altered application.
Kilmac Montrose, who own the site which is currently under construction, secured permission for a Home Bargains in August last year.
Angus development standards committee at the time unanimously backed the conditional approval recommendation of planning officials.
Councillors heard it could help stem a near £30 million retail spend leakage per year to places like Dundee and Aberdeen.
Sainsbury’s previously had plans for the site but they fell through.
Kilmac’s Derek Ross previously described the development as a “turnkey project”
He said: “We see Tayside as an area for growth.”
However, Angus Council has also received objections, with one comment drawing attention to the “copious amount of empty shops” in the town centre.
“These need filled before out of town development should be considered,” the objection continued.
“The local council and planning authority should be supporting the high street and its existing businesses rather than even considering this level of out of town development.”
Planning officials admit such sites are “not generally favoured in terms of development plan policy”, but say there are no suitable sites either in or on the edge of the town centre capable of accommodating a development of the scale being sought.
The council is expected to make a decision on the new plans by March 2.
