The meeting, which took place on Tuesday night, was held by the Elsick Development Company in Cookney Hall in order to give people more information about the 4000 house town planned for the Elsick Estate.
The scheme is being promoted by the compa
ny, which represents the Duke of Fife and neighbouring landowners, covering a substantial single area of land in the vicinity of Portlethen and Newtonhill.
Present at the meeting was David Southesk, of the Elsick Development Company, Elaine Farquharson-Black, Head of Planning at Paull and Williamson Solicitors, and Paul Roberts of Turnberry Consultants. Turnberry Consultants are acting as planning advisers for the scheme, while US-based firm Duany Plater-Zyberk (DPZ) have been brought in to oversee the design of the project.
Earl Southesk welcomed everyone to the meeting and said: "We feel that this is a genuinely exciting and interesting opportunity that we are looking at here, and one that you can take part in. We want to create something that people can live and work and play in."
He told residents that the company hoped to move the planning process along as quickly as possible, in tandem with the local plan. The final consultation stage of the Proposed Local Development Plan has just been entered, following councillors' backing to locate the vast majority of growth in the Portlethen to Stonehaven corridor at Elsick.
The meeting was shown examples of similar communities which DPZ had been involved in designing all over the world and given more details about the 10-day public charette that will be held in September. The intensive planning session will attempt to reach a consensus on all design aspects of the new town. Residents were told that the developers will also have to hold a three month public consultation before submitting a planning application.
Following the presentation, the public were given the opportunity to put forward questions and concerns regarding the proposal. Some queried the size of the project, the style of the housing and the viability of Elsick residents living, working and shopping in the town. Others asked about funding for the new infrastructure required and were reassured by the Earl of Southesk that it would all be paid for out of the development, not by Aberdeenshire Council.
Following the meeting the Earl said: "I think it went very well. I'm pleased with the way it went and I hope people will come along and take part in the design process."
North Kincardine councillor Carl Nelson said: "I thought the meeting went well, everybody seemed to be listening very intently and I thought there were some very good, pertinent questions put to the panel.
"People seemed to be very interested and I think they will be looking forward to the charette when it comes along. It is good that the community as a whole will be very much involved."
Vice-chair and planning officer of the Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council Michael Morgan said: "I thought it was an extremely good evening and I'm pleased that so many people turned up, it is very encouraging.
"This is an opportunity to get it right. I think the message from tonight was to come along and have your say."
