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Finalised Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan - the next steps

Responses to a consultation about the Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan are to be considered by Scottish Ministers.

The finalised Structure Plan was submitted to ministers by the Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Planning Authority on behalf of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils in February.

This started the consultation period, which closed on Friday (24 April). It was the final step in a consultation process which extends back over two years and is set out in detail in the publicity and consultation statement which accompanies the plan.

Copies of the Structure Plan were made widely available and more than 1,000 people were specifically informed of the start of the consultation period.

Ministers will now consider the responses and decide whether they have sufficient information to progress the plan to approval, or require further information through an examination in public.

The plan identifies a number of projects which are important to its implementation. Although inclusion in the Structure Plan is important in setting a context for the consideration of these projects, it does not predetermine the outcome of statutory processes, such as the determination of planning applications.

Councillor Scott Cassie, chair of the Aberdeen City and Shire SDPA, said: "The scale of consultation and engagement in the preparation of the Structure Plan has been considerable. The process was robust and gave extensive and numerous opportunities for communities and stakeholders to share their views with us.

"All this information is now in the hands of Scottish Ministers and I look forward to swift progress in the approval of the plan.

"The approval of the plan is critical in moving forward with the implementation of the strategy to ensure that Aberdeen City and Shire is an excellent place to live, visit and do business."