Elected members reacted with both fury and delight as councillors pressed the final rubber-stamp onto a new Local Development Plan (LDP) for Renfrewshire.
The communities, housing and planning board signalled its intention to adopt the plan earlier this year, but the blueprint had to go back to the Scottish Government one more time before the deal could be sealed.
Now that ministers have said go-ahead, the plan - which sets out sites that can be used for housing - has been officially adopted.
A final decision should have been made a few months ago but was delayed due to a legal battle with Cosmopolitan Hotels.
The firm - which owned the former Erskine Bridge Hotel - went to the Court of Session to argue against the council's decision to reject plans for 246 homes near what is now called the Muthu Glasgow River Hotel.
The court threw out the case last month which left the road clear for elected members to give the LDP the green light.
But the approval received a mixed reaction from the chamber as some controversial sites were saved while others are now destined for development.
Following the original examination by a government-appointed reporter, the planning board resolved to bin some of their recommendations by opting not to earmark green spaces at Thriplee Road in Bridge of Weir and Auchenlodment Road in Elderslie for new homes, while deciding to keep a former driving range in Rannoch Road, Johnstone, for future housing.
At the same time, councillors opted to keep a patch of greenbelt land in Burnfoot Road, Lochwinnoch, in the plan despite fierce opposition.
Since ministers have confirmed they do not wish to interfere any further, these decisions are now set in stone.
Councillor Andy Steel said he was delighted to see a beauty spot saved from development in Elderslie.
“I am delighted the plan was approved," said the Johnstone South and Elderslie councillor.
“We’re not so well off for green spaces that we can afford to reject brownfield sites and replace them with greenfield, which is what the original reporter’s decision did. Fair play to them for accepting the arguments put forward by the community.
“Auchenlodment Road is a well-used area in Elderslie.
"I know of many young families who enjoy the safe green space it provides, and I’d have been both disappointed and pretty embarrassed to see it lost to housing.”
Meanwhile, Lochwinnoch councillor Andy Doig said he wanted his dissent over the adoption recorded as he hit out at the earmarking of Burnfoot Road for housing.
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He wanted to defer the decision for further consideration given that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has predicted it is a flood-risk area in its forecasts for the Black Cart, White Cart and Gryfe catchment areas.
But his amendment failed by a single vote as administration councillors pushed the LDP through.
Councillor Doig said: "Having examined in detail what SEPA has to say on flood risk and flood prediction for Renfrewshire as a whole, this demands the board look at what SEPA is saying prior to approving the LDP.
"According to SEPA’s own figures, an additional 2,500 properties and another 9,000 Renfrewshire residents would be at further risk of moderate to severe flooding.
"I very much regret that, once again, convener Marie McGurk would not listen to reasoned debate and seeks to close down legitimate discussion on how flooding predictions need to be heeded."
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