The “lengthy and expensive” wrangling over plans for a supermarket development is finally over.
After four years in the pipeline, consent has been granted for a 43,000ft store in Kirriemuir.
A spokeswoman for Guild Homes said: “We are delighted to confirm that we have finally received planning consent from Angus Council for a new supermarket at Pathhead, Kirriemuir.
“This is the culmination of a planning process that has been both lengthy and expensive, with our first application being lodged over four years ago.”
She continued: “A second application was lodged in February 2011 and approved subject to conditions by full council on 1st February 2012.
“Disappointingly it has taken a further 16 months to reach the necessary agreement with officials to allow the formal planning consent to be released.”
An operator has yet to be formally approached to run the supermarket, with Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrison among the early contenders.
The spokeswoman added: “We would wish to thank the people of Kirriemuir and the elected councillors for the over-whelming support provided throughout consideration of our application, without which we simply would not have received planning consent.
“With the terms of the planning consent now finalised, we are at last in a position to progress our discussions with a supermarket operator.
“We look forward to now delivering, at the earliest opportunity, the best supermarket possible for the people of Kirriemuir.”
In February 2011 a packed public gallery in Kirriemuir Town Hall cheered as a meeting of Angus Council voted 18 to five in favour of the move.
The council had wanted Mark Guild to sign up to a section 75 legal agreement to commit the company to obligations, including a bond for works at the Glamis Road junction leading into the town and the provision of a £500,000 community fund treasure chest.
Mr Guild described the conditions initially suggested by the council as “overly onerous” and said the economic downturn had made the suggested demands almost impossible to achieve ahead of the development getting under way.
Mr Guild previously said he believes there is “overwhelming and unprecedented” community support for the plan.
In early 2010, a similar plan for the same land was considered at a marathon meeting alongside competing bids for two other town sites.
Councillors refused the applications, but a Co-operative scheme for the Gairie Works premises of textile firm J&D Wilkie was subsequently approved at appeal.
At that time an “unnamed major operator” was waiting in the wings for a confirmed consent.