Councillors reject retail development plan

Date Added - 17/03/09

Moray councillors today rejected a planning application for a six-unit retail development in Elgin.

Members of the planning and regulatory services committee voted 8-4 against the proposal by Broom Estates Ltd to redevelop a derelict sawmill site at Linkwood Road.

The company had submitted plans for a non-food retail development which would have seen four 10,000sq ft units and two 5,000sq ft units accommodated within a single building.

The applicants said it was envisaged the development would create more than 250 full-time and part-time jobs and would help stem the leakage of trade from Elgin to Aberdeen and Inverness.

The application attracted a number of objections, mainly from existing businesses who feared it would impact adversely on the viability of Elgin town centre where a number of shops have closed in recent months.

There were no objections from statutory consultees and planning officials had recommended approval of the application.

The amendment to refuse the application was tabled by Elgin councillor John Russell, seconded by another Elgin member, Councillor John Divers.

Councillor Russell told the committee that, in recessionary times, he did not believe Elgin town centre was resilient enough to withstand the proposed development.