A REJECTED £15 million plan for a Scottish town to get its “first major supermarket” has been resubmitted.
Developers Ashfield Land have put forward revised proposals to build a Tesco superstore outside Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, which they say could open in 2027 and create 100 jobs if approved.
A previous bid to develop the site was rejected by Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) by six votes to seven in August 2025. Planning officials had recommended a refusal, saying that the supermarket proposal did not comply with the local development plan, but both Stonehaven councillors on the committee voted to approve.
Fears had centred around whether a superstore on the outskirts of Stonehaven would negatively impact on the town’s high street. However, Ashfield Land argue that their new proposal would not do so.
The developer commissioned an Independent Household Shopping survey of habits in Stonehaven, which found that millions of pounds in potential local spending “leaks” away to nearby towns like Montrose due to supermarkets being based there.
Stonehaven Community Council commissioned a separate survey of more than 1000 local residents which found that 81.3% do their main food shopping outside the town.
Ashfield Land said it had held first project consultation events in February and March and reported 85% and 94% in favour of the “Stonehaven Gateway” development.
Brian Menzies, the chair of Stonehaven Community Council, said: “Our own survey indicates that residents want choice in Stonehaven, and that the community believes the proposed development by Tesco will increase the number of visitors to Stonehaven town centre as a result.
“Community engagement has reflected that there is a large demand for additional retail provision and investment in Stonehaven. That is clear from the number of people who have responded and attended consultation events.
“Stonehaven and District Community Council supports this application, which represents what the majority of our community has indicated is needed. We look forward to seeing the application considered in full by Aberdeenshire Council.”
Steven McGarva, managing director at Ashfield Land, said: “The team is enormously grateful to the local community, who have again taken the time to engage with us.
“Feedback from our consultation events reflects that residents want greater local retail choice, and we believe there is clear evidence that Stonehaven can accommodate this.
“We look forward to working with Aberdeenshire Council to progress this application.”
