A NEGLECTED area at the northern gateway of Aberdeen is set to undergo a major makeover thanks to a huge investment of over £10 million from CALA Homes. The company has submitted comprehensive plans to construct a new neighbourhood on the site of the recently torn down Silverburn House complex in the Bridge of Don area.
The plan includes the construction of 72 residential units, replacing the former office spaces, with an investment exceeding £5.5 million. The development will feature a variety of housing types, including 54 detached homes ranging from three to five bedrooms, along with 18 one and three-bedroom affordable housing units that meet local planning standards.
Silverburn House was once the main offices for several of the largest companies in the North Sea oil and gas sector, such as Occidental, TotalFinaElf, and GE Energy.
However, the complex was demolished in 2019 following a downturn in oil prices, leaving the building unused. Since then, it has become an eyesore and a magnet for illegal dumping.
CALA aims to fully revitalize the area and has proposed plans for residential buildings along with a “friendly entrance” along the city’s northern boundary, the A92 Ellon Road.
The project is expected to start construction soon, with all houses to include electric vehicle charging facilities as part of the design to align with Scotland’s goal of achieving net zero emissions.
Additionally, the development will include a large green space along the Silver Burn, a former waterway that lends the area its name.
Lynn Melvin, Senior Land Manager at CALA Homes (North), said the project will deliver much-needed houses and restore biodiversity to a site which has been commercial land since the 1980s.
She said: “CALA has been creating communities in the Bridge of Don for a number of years and we are delighted to be moving forward with the Silverburn project.
“While currently a brownfield site, this location is a ready-made community, with existing retail, community services and employment opportunities all within close proximity.
“This application returns a rather unsightly area back into use as residential property – a positive outcome, particularly in the context of the national housing emergency which we currently face.
“We will also be restoring the Silver Burn to create a natural landscape feature which will benefit residents and contribute positively to the biodiversity of the area.”
The Silverburn site borders Cloverhill, where a new community of over 500 homes is underway. Nearby land at the old Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre is also earmarked for future housing development.
Silverburn already has planning permission in principle for 119 homes, including 30 flats, but CALA has scaled the site back to allow for more green space.
Its planning statement adds that its focus on homes rather than flats is driven by a desire from purchasers for private outdoor space following the pandemic.
It will unlock a cash injection for local community facilities in the Bridge of Don, as well as a financial contribution towards a new path linking Cloverhill and the coast.
And it will generate several million pounds for the public finances through council tax and land and buildings transaction tax receipts.
Silverburn will be the latest Aberdeen investment by CALA, as it plays a key role in creating housing, jobs and economic growth across the North-east of Scotland.
Ms Melvin added: “At CALA, we’re also always on the lookout for exciting land opportunities to transform new sites into our exacting standards of high-quality homes.
“By proactively purchasing land in the North-east, we can continue to deliver thriving, sustainable new communities that highlight the very best in living that Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire can offer.
“If successfully approved, we will work with local charities and organisations as part of our Community Pledge initiative, which provides donations, volunteering time and school programmes in the local areas in which we build.
“We look forward to receiving a decision from Aberdeen City Council in due course.”
