THE masterplan encapsulating all the proposals for Ury Estate was the first item up for discussion at Tuesday evening’s meeting of Stonehaven and District Community Council – with the developer being urged to build the golf course while folks were still fit to play it.
Developer Jonathon Milne talked the members through the ‘jigsaw puzzle’ of proposals – many with planning permissions in place.
Chair David Lawman noted the development ‘bottleneck’ caused by the requirement to build a link road connecting the Slug Road to the Netherley Road with, of course, a bridge crossing the River Cowie. This feature, which is a condition in most planning consents, has been in the estate masterplans since about 2007/8.
Mr Lawman asked how the road was coming along.
Mr Milne said: ”It is quite a costly build: a costly item of infrastructure.”
He said the Slug Road section was complete and works have been done on the other side. Piles are installed for the bridge and grading works to reach East Lodge Road started but more work is needed.
He later added: ”The link road is not something that we would have brought forward, but we have been asked to do it.”
In total, the masterplan would deliver 577 houses – 532 already have their permissions in place, 91 of which are low cost houses. Some of the development is not reliant on the road, including the Blue Lodge site.
Mr Milne shared his hopes for an improving property market as he needs to sell houses to finance his development, as ‘money is expensive to borrow’.
He said progress was being made towards the delivery of land for the Mackie FP Rugby Club for the princely sum of £1. And he said his agents were actively seeking an operator for the supermarket site after Morrison’s decision to walk away.
Long awaited golf course
Mr Milne provided an update on progress at the Jack Nicklaus golf course where work has started on 15 of the 18 holes and should recommence by the start of May. He hopes for a 2026/27 completion.
But the planning history at Ury is long and complex. It is now 20 years since the first planning permission was granted for a golf course at the estate.
And Cllr Alan Turner voiced the frustration caused by the slow progress of the development.
”My question is about time,” he said.
”All of this has been going on for ages. Jack Nicklaus is getting older.”
He added: ”I would like to see it sooner rather than later. I would like to be able to play it.”
Mr Milne parried such comments with apparent good nature – and the discussion finished with members of SDCC thanking the patient developer and offering words of encouragement and support.