IF THE ANM Group loses the planning appeal over extending its Thainstone Business Park, it is likely that its proposal to build a new abattoir may be scrapped.
Aberdeenshire Council's Garioch area committee rejected the Thainstone extension plans back in August, prompting the company to respond with an appeal to ScotGov.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the north-east farmers' co-operative, its immediate past chairman Pat Machray made it clear that plans for a new ScotBeef Inverurie abattoir were dependent on that appeal allowing the extension to go ahead.
Mr Machray said: “If the appeal is won we will step forward immediately with everything. We need to get the infrastructure right for the site and we have planned for the abattoir to be in the right place so as not to disrupt neighbours. If we don’t get through this appeal the board, along with Scotbeef, will have to reassess the situation.”
If it proceeds, ScotBeef Inverurie would be a joint venture between Scotland's largest meat processing company, JW Galloway, with ANM holding a 5% stake in the firm.
Group chief executive Grant Rogerson described the Garioch area committee’s decision to reject the plans as a "huge challenge" to the company.
He said: “Securing the future of Scotbeef Inverurie is dependent on the successful approval of the plans. We have launched an appeal with the Scottish Government and we are doing everything we can to move things forward for a positive outcome. Securing the future of Scotbeef Inverurie is dependent on the successful approval of the plans.”
Speaking at the committee in August, Garioch councillor, Sheena Lonchay, said she was unhappy with the application without “a plan in place that would help ease congestion in Thainstone”.