A planned Jack Nicklaus Championship golf course near Stonehaven has won initial support from councillors despite claims it would decimate part of ancient woodland described as being “second only to Sherwood Forest” in terms of its importance.
Senior planner Neil Mair warned the Kincardine and area committee that 25.5 hectares of the ancient woodland one of the largest clusters of mature trees in the north-east area would be lost.
His statement came during consideration of the FM Group’s plans for the 18-hole Nicklaus-designed course and 90 homes at Ury Estate.
It won the commitee’s backing and will now be considered by the full council next month.
Mr Mair said: “It is the second highest class of ancient woodland you can get the highest class would be Sherwood Forest.
“It’s not about what you physically see it’s about an understanding of the history and ecology of this area being woodland for the last 140 years.
“You can’t recreate that. Yes, you can re-plant and in 100 years’ time they might have the same characteristics as this but that’s a heck of a time to mitigate something that’s there.
“That’s the point the Forestry Commission are making the best mitigation is just to not develop to this extent.”
It would be the only course in the UK in the “Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Family”, which comprises 25 countries.
Stonehaven councillor Peter Bellarby said: “There are significant economic and social benefits arising out of this that outweigh part of the loss of the ancient woodland.”
Fellow Stonehaven members Raymond Christie and Graeme Clark also gave their backing with Mr Clark stating the course “will also enhance Stonehaven” and “the overall potential of the golf course outweighs the loss of the ancient woodland”.
Mearns councillor George Carr also gave his backing and said the Nicklaus course had the potential to put Stonehaven and Aberdeenshire on the map.
North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison said he did have a gnawing doubt.
“Should you forget your heritage for the sake of some money?” he said.
The Forestry Commission had raised serious concerns as approximately half of the proposed houses and four holes of the golf course will erode a large area of the long-established ancient woodland.
Mitigation has been proposed by the applicant in the form of soil relocation and compensatory re-planting to enhance woodland links throughout the estate.
Although the mitigation has been supported by the Forestry Commission, the general principle of losing so much of the ancient woodland was not something they could support.