Primary school provision and GP pressure have been flagged up as early concerns around a near 250-house expansion plan for Forfar.
Town-based construction company Guild Homes hopes to create the £50 million development as an extension to its current Strathmore Fields development.
The firm is building more than 230 on the site between Kirriemuir Road and Taylor Street. It has already sold 75% of the properties there.
A proposal of application notice (PAN) was submitted to Angus Council earlier this summer for land north east of Garth Farm which adjoins the under-construction site.
The 30-hectare site sits outside the Forfar development boundary.
But the firm has said westwards expansion towards the A90 Forfar bypass would be a “natural and seamless continuation” of their current project.
A virtual exhibition on the proposal will launch later this month.
The developer is also due to give locals the opportunity to raise their own questions around the plan at a live online event on August 26.
Key issues
Angus development standards councillors noted the PAN at their first virtual meeting following the council’s summer recess.
Official Alan Hunter’s report identified a string of potential key issues for the determination of any subsequent planning application.
High up the list includes whether there is currently sufficient housing land in the west Angus housing market area to meet development plan requirements and if unallocated prime agricultural should be used.
Local plan policy allows building contiguous with a development boundary, but only if the need cannot be met within it.
Montrose councillor Bill Duff said: “Obviously this is outwith the development boundary and I’d be concerned about the distance of this housing from the nearest primary school.
“I’m also led to believe that there are issues with Forfar GP practices.
“I know that’s sometimes contentious in a planning matter, but that’s one that has been drawn to my attention as well.”
The Strathmore Fields development sits adjacent to the town community campus which includes Forfar Academy, whilst Whitehills is the nearest primary school.
Rival bids
Guild Homes’ design for the site is at an advanced stage and the firm said it has brought forward the scheme to stave off a feared future shortage of new homes.
Company boss Mark Guild said: “While other allocated sites in the town may come forward in the future, the sites do not appear to have made any progress to date, with clear and significant obstructions to development.”
The housebuilder cannot submit a formal application before September 12 under planning rules which allow for a 12-week gap from the submission of a valid PAN.
Plans for two other significant developments on the south west side of Forfar are still to be decided on.
Muir Homes plans to build 175 houses at Westfield Loan on a site beside Glamis Road.
North-east developer Scotia Homes lodged a PAN for nearby land earlier this year but has yet to submit a full planning application for a 125-home development.