Preparations for Tayside’s contribution to next year’s Commonwealth Games were given the go-ahead.
Full planning permission has been granted to Glasgow 2014 for shooting ranges, two small enclosed arenas and an array of engineering projects at Barry Buddon.
The shooting events will see thousands of competitors, supporters and games staff spend up to eight days on the East coast. The approval also means Dundee City Council can forge ahead with its plans for a Commonwealth Village.
Plans went before Angus Council’s development standards committee as the major planning application involved council-owned land.
The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will take place between July 23 and August 4. Athletes, officials and visitors from 71 Commonwealth Games Federation member countries are expected to attend.
Planning officer Jamie Scott said there had been concerns raised by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, but development could mitigate this.
He added footfall on the course and its surroundings would be roughly 4,500 people per day, including competitors and spectators, adding: “This is very small compared to an Open day at Carnoustie, which is in the order of 40,000 people per day.”
Additionally, the majority of buildings would be temporary, and many of the support structures would be under canvas.
Councillor Bill Bowles said the games in Barry Buddon would be “a fantastic opportunity for Carnoustie and Angus,” and asked whether a timetable was in place for dismantling the structures.
Mr Scott said construction would last from January to May that year, with an overlap period for “branding” the site from with appropriate logos of May to June. Athlete training would commence on July 13.
Dismantling would begin immediately after the competition, with full remedial work finished within several months.
Committee convener Rob Murray said: “As much of the activity will be in Monifieth, and a lot of the traffic will go through there on its way to Barry Buddon, I would also like to hear that it’s good for Monifieth as well as Carnoustie.”
An arrangement has been set up with Dundee City Council over transport and accommodation.
A council spokesman said: “Discussions are ongoing on this subject and a report will be considered by the city council in the near future.”
The move for full planning permission followed the conclusion of a public consultation on the plans, which included an exhibition in the Carnoustie leisure centre and a short presentation to the town’s community council at a meeting at the end of May last year.
A report by planning consultants Halliday Fraser Munro indicated only minor work would be required for the full bore range at Barry North.
Two enclosed ranges will be built for small bore events, along with three clay target ranges to the western part of the site.
A transport compound will be formed on land owned by Carnoustie Golf Club at the northern edge, where coaches will drop off spectators and guests.