• Jack Nicklaus' £80m Stonehaven resort hits more problems
• Due to developers no longer needing to contribute to a fund
• It means FM Group aren't liable for payments to the council
Jack Nicklaus’ proposed £80m development in Aberdeenshire could be axed – despite having already been approved by councillors.
Plans for the Ury Estate resort near Stonehaven – which will contain a championship golf course, clubhouse, hotel and 90 five-bedroom homes – was given the green light in May after councillors voted 45 to 20 in favour.
That followed a dispute about the course being built on an area of ancient woodland, forcing Jack Nicklaus to quell fears about its environmental impact.
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But now, the development has hit another problem and been thrown into doubt after a court ruling found that developers – FM Group – no longer need to contribute to a fund covering infrastructure changes.
It relates to a Court of Session ruling, which found in favour of developers Elsick Development, who questioned their financial obligations for infrastructure changes at a project in nearby Elsick.
Instead of an £8m developer contribution demand, the Court of Session judges reduced the bill to just £287,000.
It means that FM Group are no longer liable for payments to the council's transport fund.
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According to the Press and Journal, members are now being advised to ‘consider whether they still wish to support a delegated grant’ of planning permission as developer the FM Group would not be forced to contribute to the transport fund.
Councillors will reconsider the plans at a full council meeting on September 29.
bunkered.co.uk tried to contact FM Group but they declined to comment due to it being a council issue.
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