Pilot project to generate interest in undeveloped housing and commercial sites
Aberdeenshire Council has developed a new pilot project to further highlight the significant opportunities around long-term undeveloped sites across the region.
The 2025 Delivery Programme is a live document which will feature progress updates on allocated sites as well as other relevant information from landowners or developers.
You can view the programme here: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/plans-and-policies/delivering-development/
It follows the successful launch last year of two interactive maps - the Employment Land Prospectus and the Housing Site Prospectus – both showcasing unused land which attracted nearly 3,000 visits.
The sites are allocated in the 2023 Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan for employment or housing uses and as such have been subject to public consultation and formal examination by Scottish Ministers.
The prospectus were developed by the council’s Place Information and Delivery Team, to provide developers with a comprehensive list of long-term available sites which have been allocated within Aberdeenshire Council’s Local Development Plan.
Using digital interactive mapping tools with text and informative data for individual sites ranging in sizes, users can visualise sites on a map including geo-spatial information with further details organised across the six administration areas across Aberdeenshire.
The new Delivery Programme will complement these further, with a new style of site brief showcasing key features of individual sites including more detailed information and visual features such a site topography, site constraints, local facilities and relationship to the local area.
Aberdeenshire is currently home to around 262,000 people and between 2001 and 2021 its population increased by 15.8%. Figures from the National Records of Scotland show that the north east’s population is expected to grow by a further 24% by 2039 – emphasising the ever increasing need for new housing.
Cllr Alan Turner, chair of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “With so many unused sites across the region offering tremendous potential, it’s vital we do everything we can to support their development – be that for new housing, commercial activities or leisure opportunities.
"Our region is home to a wide range of sectors from energy and renewables to life sciences, technology and digital, and our aim is to continue working with partners to fulfill demand and to further increase our business environment through development opportunities.
"There is huge potential for businesses to expand into Aberdeenshire and our Delivery Team is on hand to discuss sites with interested developers.”
The council’s Place Information and Delivery Team would encourage discussions on bringing forward any of these sites for development and considered proposals are likely to receive positive support and advice during the planning and statutory processes to ensure that the application can secure a favourable outcome.
If you have any queries regarding any of the information contained within the delivery programme, or if you are a developer or landowner looking to bring forward any development sites and require any assistance or guidance, contact the Delivery Team at delivery@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
