Councillors have thrown out plans for more than 250 homes on the edge of Carnoustie.
A special full council meeting in Forfar followed the recommendation of planning officials in unanimously rejecting the proposal for 16 hectares of land south east of Pitskelly Farm, on the northern boundary of the town and beside the Upper Victoria link road.
The indicative plan included an extension to Shanwell cemetery, but was heavily criticised by one local councillor for its use of prime farmland and breach of the local development plan.
The refusal is the latest stage of a complex and prolonged fight surrounding competing housing and residential sites on the west of the town at Pitskelly and the east at Carlogie.
Angus planning service leader Kate Cowey said: “The proposed residential development does not support delivery of the development strategy for Carnoustie and is significantly contrary to development plan policy.
“Its approval could jeopardise the development strategy for Carnoustie.”
Independent town councillor David Cheape led opposition to the scheme, saying: “This application is not right for Carnoustie.
“This is a major development which is significantly contrary to the local development plan.
“We already have land allocated for housing and commercial purposes to the north of this site when the local development plan was amended back in 2014.
“It provides, as the Scottish Office Reporter stated at the time, a generous supply of housing land which fully meets the requirements of the strategic development plan.”
Mr Cheape added: “Subsequently, those sites were granted planning permission in principle for development in December 2016.”
“No one wants housing of this scale wrapped around the peace and tranquillity provided by Shanwell cemetery.”
Mr Cheape also railed against the idea of greenfield land being lost.
He added: “Let’s be clear – there is no shortfall in the effective housing land supply with the current supply satisfying five to seven years’ demand.
“Consequently, as there is no support for the release of additional housing land, there is no support for the loss of prime agricultural land.
“If this is permitted, I believe it would open opportunities for others to make applications for land development outwith the designated areas shown within the Angus local development plan.”
