Moray Council’s planning & regulatory services committee approved the plans for the 6.5-hectare Robertson Homes development at Lesmurdie Fields, with councillors voting six to four in favour of the proposals.

There will be a mixture of 55 private and 26 affordable homes, including accessible units. Reflecting the latest Moray Local Development Plan, significant open space, substantial visitor parking, bin and cycle storage, and electric charging points are also included.

The plans will see the junction between Pitgaveny Road and Calcots Road improved, widening of Pitgaveny Road and provision of a footway/cycleway from Calcots Road to Lesmurdie Road.

The site provides well in excess of the 20% minimum open space required by planning policy, and street names are to be based on the architects who designed neighbouring B-listed Lesmurdie House.

Trees will be removed to allow for the building of these new homes, however, 38 semi-mature trees and 3,165 new trees will be planted, with a total new woodland planting area of 3,143m2 throughout the development.

Chair of Moray Council’s planning & regulatory services committee, Cllr David Bremner, said the new development linking into the established nearby estate of Chandlers Rise will allow residents to benefit from active travel opportunities.

He added: “Families moving into these new homes will enjoy easy access to the existing network of footpaths and cyclepaths and this should reduce the need for short car journeys. While there will be the loss of some existing trees, I’m confident the developer is mitigating this with extensive additional planting of native species to encourage biodiversity and support new habitats for wildlife.

“The inclusion of electric charging points and cycle storage reflects our aspirations as a climate-conscious council and, in line with our new local development plan, we look to housebuilders to provide these in all relevant future applications.”