Consultation starts on Aberdeen development plan
22/10/09
The consultation into the Aberdeen Local Development Plan Main Issues Report has been launched by the city council.
Local people, developers and key agencies can view and respond to the report during the eight week consultation period, which runs until Friday, 11 December.
This consultation is in line with the aims of the reformed Scottish planning system which seeks to simplify the development plan process and involve individuals and groups at an early stage while options are still being examined. I
The Main Issues Report sets out proposed options for more than 20,000 homes on greenfield sites, 4,500 homes on brownfield sites and over 175 hectares of business land needed to meet the city's future needs.
The purpose of the report is to gather views on options put forward by city planners. No decisions have yet been made. Respondents are invited to express their support for, as well as their opposition to, any of the contents of the document.
The council is working on a new Local Development Plan for Aberdeen which must show where future housing and employment land might be provided to meet the needs of the city over the next 10-20 years. The focus is on promoting sustainable development.
Before deciding on which sites should go into the new plan, however, the council wants to hear everyone's opinions about the options discussed in the Main Issues Report.
Councillor Kate Dean, convener of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure, said: "This is your chance to have a say on how Aberdeen will look in the future. I would urge everyone to take this opportunity to make their views about the report known."
Earlier this year, the council invited developers, landowners and others to suggest where development land might be identified. In response, 126 sites were put forward as options.
Twenty-three of those sites in greenfield locations have now been assessed by planning officers as being desirable or promising options with potential for housing. These include sites at: Dubford; Whitestripes; Grandholm; Stoneywood; Craibstone; Greenferns; Kingswells; Countesswells; Oldfold/Milltimber; and Loirston.
Ten have been identified as having potential for employment land, including sites at: Murcar; Greenferns; Kingswells; Countesswells and Loirston.
The Main Issues Report also identifies dozens of brownfield sites with development potential, recognising that these sites will continue to make a big contribution to the city's supply of housing opportunities.
Other planning issues examined in the Main Issues Report include: transport and accessibility; infrastructure and developer contributions; city centre and retailing; housing; design; waste and energy; and sustainable construction.
Copies of the Main Issues Report and supporting documents can be viewed at:
•The Point, St Nicholas House, Broad Street, Aberdeen;
•Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure, 8th Floor, St Nicholas House;
•All public libraries in Aberdeen, except Kaimhill Library. The report will be available for viewing in the mobile library serving the Garthdee area throughout the consultation period between 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and between 9.30am and 12.30pm on Thursdays at Inchgarth Community Centre, and at Janesfield Manor sheltered housing complex, Auchinyell Road, between 9.30 and and 12.30pm on Fridays.
Response forms are available from these sites.
All documents are available to view free of charge during normal opening hours.
The documents and response forms can also be viewed or downloaded from the city council website at: www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/localdevelopmentplan
Drop-in sessions with facilitated workshops to discuss the Main Issues Report will be held at the following places:
| Venue | Date |
| Airyhall Primary School | 2 November |
| Town and County Hall, Town House | 9 November |
| Milltimber Primary School | 11 November |
| Stoneywood Primary School | 16 November |
| Altens Community Centre | 18 November |
| Cults Community Centre | 19 November |
| Scotstown Primary School | 23 November |
| Kingswells Primary School |
24 November |
| Culter Primary School | 25 November |
| Mastrick Community Centre | 1 December |
Drop-in sessions will run at each venue from 6-9pm (except for Airyhall which is from 6:30-9pm) with a facilitated discussion workshop from 7-8pm).
All comments should be sent by mail to: The Local Development Plan Team, Enterprise, Planning & Infrastructure, 9th Floor, St Nicholas House, Broad Street, Aberdeen AB10 1BW, or by email to:- ldp@aberdeencity.gov.uk
The closing date for receiving responses is 5pm on Friday 11th December 2009. If you need further information, please contact the Local Development Plan Team on 01224 523330
All responses will be reported to the Council and will help inform the content of the Proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan which is expected to be published in autumn 2010.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 08456 080910.
