Red squirrels win the day as Plan B resort on Deeside gets go-ahead

PLANS for a £100 million golf, housing and leisure development on Royal Deeside have been approved after the developer reduced the scale of the scheme to protect the habitat of an endangered species.

Nine months ago, Aberdeenshire Council threw out plans for the complex, which include a luxury five-star hotel, centred on the championship course at Inchmarlo Golf Club on the outskirts of Banchory.

It was rejected for being “significantly contrary” to the local development plan and concerns that it could lead to the loss of vital habitat for red squirrels.

Yesterday, council members voted 30-23 in favour of a revised scheme after hearing the number of houses planned had been reduced from 125 to 80.