Members of Moray Council’s planning and regularly services committee approved the application from Tulloch following a four-and-a-half hour hearing at which both the company and objectors made submissions.

The application for the site at Sunbank, of the southern edge of the town, attracted more than 60 objections, mainly from people living nearby.

Many of the objections related to access to the development site via two residential cul-de-sacs – Fisher Place and Halliman Way – off Boyd Anderson Drive.

After a lengthy debate Councillor Mike McConachie, seconded by Councillor Allan Wright, moved that the application be granted but that no construction traffic be allowed to access the site via Boyd Anderson Drive and the cul-de-sacs.

Councillor Douglas Ross, seconded by Councillor Gordon McDonald, moved an amendment that the application be refused to allow the developers to resubmit proposals for access to the site to be taken off the A941and B9135 both during and after the construction phase.

The vote was tied at five-all, with committee chairman Councillor Chris Tuke using his casting vote in favour of Councillor McConachie’s motion.

@TheMorayCouncil