Final chance for residents to comment on local plan
LOCAL residents have a final chance to put forward their views on Aberdeenshire Council's ambitious plan for the development of the North-east.
The last consultation period for the proposed local plan has now officially opened and the council are inviting as many people as possible have their say before the plan is finalised. The plan will provide a blueprint for council officials when ruling on future planning applications.
A new settlement at Elsick has been identified as the preferred option for the Portlethen to Stonehaven corridor, with 4060 houses proposed until 2023. Much of the proposed site will be reserved for parks and green spaces.
Significant transportation upgrades, including upgrading the Newtonhill A90 junction and a new grade-separated junction at Bourtreebush, are also planned, with new infrastructure set to include a new academy and up to three new primary schools.
In addition, there are 390 houses proposed for Stonehaven over three sites - at Ury House, Carron Den and Kirkton of Fetteresso - while 70 houses are proposed at Newtonhill.
The consultation period will run until October 1 and is the final chance to comment on the proposed plan, which is now available in libraries and at council area offices together with associated documents. Copies are also available on Aberdeenshire Council's website, where residents can also respond to the consultation.
Responses will be considered by a Scottish Government Reporter, who will hold an examination to resolve any outstanding issues. It is expected that most submissions will be dealt with by the Reporter by written submission and a limited number of informal hearings.
Chairman of the council's Infrastructure Services Committee, councillor Peter Argyle, said: "The degree of agreement on the content of the plan and the effort that this council has made to be inclusive in the development of its content is recognised by many and I was encouraged by comments in the press recently from the development industry confirming this point.
"I think we can agree the plan itself may be short, but the underpinning guidance for some 140 different towns and villages was never going to be anything other than a substantial document.
"This is an extremely important plan for this area, in that it will help deliver a stronger economy and more sustainable communities."
ISC vice chair, councillor Jill Webster, added: "By now more than 5000 households will have had envelopes notifying them of proposals on neighbouring land which may affect them, and they have been invited to make a response.
"The scale of the exercise being undertaken is unprecedented for a document of this nature and those affected cannot claim they did not know what is planned. This will, in time, allow us to make planning decisions on the basis of the plan in the comfort that a wide public debate has taken place and a consensus reached.
"More certainty for communities and faster decisions for developers are all part of the new, modernised planning system we are promoting.
"The important thing is that people use this final opportunity to give us their views so that any outstanding issues can be presented to a Scottish Government Reporter for resolution."
The Proposed Plan, which has been out to consultation in various draft forms since the process to develop it began in January 2008, currently represents the council's settled view as to what the final adopted content of the plan should be.
To view the Proposed Local Development Plan documents and take part in the consultation online, visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/ldp
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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