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Meetings to discuss Aberdeen development options

A series of open evenings to discuss proposals for the future development of areas of Aberdeen is to be held next month.

Developers have been invited to attend the meetings to discuss their development options with members of the public.

More than 120 development options for thousands of new homes city-wide have been received by the city council for sites across the city.

Development options is a process to gather information about opportunities for development within the city. The development options received have been put forward by the development industry, not the planning authority. Decisions on which sites should be taken forward in the next local development plan will be made following public consultation.

The process seeks to bring information about development proposals to the front of the consultation process to raise the quality of the proposals.

As part of the reform of the planning system in Scotland planning authorities are encouraged to engage with all groups at the earliest opportunity in the preparation of the development plan.

This process will improve how development opportunities are currently identified, as it will result in a more transparent process for developers and the public, and allow early and informed community engagement.

The development plan team is now in the process of assessing each of the sites.

Five drop in open evenings will be held in early June to discuss the development options received by the council.

The events will take place from 6.30pm to 9.30pm on:
• 1 June at the Town and County Hall, for the Northfield, Hilton, Stockethill, Tillydrone, Seaton, Old Aberdeen, Midstocket, Rosemount, George Street, Harbour, Hazlehead, Ashley and Queens Cross areas of the city;
• 2 June at Oldmachar Academy for Bridge of Don, Dyce, and the Bucksburn and Danestone areas for development east of the River Don;
• 4 June at Dyce Academy for the Kingswells, Sheddocksley areas, and the Dyce, Bucksburn and Danestone areas for developments west of the River Don
• 8 June at Loirston Primary School for the Kincorth, Loirston, Torry, Ferryhill, Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee areas.
• 10 June at Cults Academy for the Lower Deeside area.

Planning convener Scott Cassie said: "These meetings are a great way for people to get to know more about what developers would like to do in their area. They also provide a great medium for developers to get involved with communities and explain what it is that they want to do, and what that means for the people living in those areas."

Following these meetings and the development plan team's assessment of the options, a main issues report will be prepared. The discussion document will summarise the main planning issues facing Aberdeen.

It will identify where land for development is required and in doing so it will have to take into account the requirements of the structure plan. It will also outline any major differences in approach to the current adopted Aberdeen Local Plan.

After its publication in September there will be a period in which representations can be made on the report's content. Details on how, to whom and by when these representations should be made will be made available nearer the time.

Details of the local development plan process can be seen at
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Planning/ldp/pla_local_development_plan.asp

Details of the development options can be seen at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Planning/ldp/pla_local_develop_plan_propsals.asp