AN important planning document which will help to shape future land use of Aberdeen and guide planning decisions including housing developments, leisure and industrial zones have now been approved.
The Aberdeen Local Development Plan was approved at Full Council on 2 March 2020 and has been the Council’s settled view on what should be included in the final adopted Local Development Plan.
At a meeting of Aberdeen City Council’s Full Council today, it was agreed modifications and minor drafting changes should be made to the Plan, and that it would be formally adopted.
The Plan includes several policies to encourage more tourism and cultural activities in the city centre and includes the seven City Centre Masterplan Interventions Areas are also identified.
Health and wellbeing are key components of the Plan, reflecting both their historic connection with planning and the need to ensure that healthcare services are provided, as well as creating environments that foster health, encourage active lifestyles, and reduce inequalities in well-being. This health for all theme will be further developed in future guidance.
The Plan also looks to help address climate change, by ensuring developments are resilient to changing weather patterns as well as protecting assets such as flood plains and carbon-rich soils. It also promotes a low carbon economy through, for instance, encouraging greater energy efficiency, heat networks and greener transport and infrastructure.
Aberdeen City Council Planning Committee Convener Councillor Dell Henrickson said: “We welcome the adoption of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2023 at a meeting of the Full Council today.
“The Plan should help to shape the future of the city by encouraging growth and including important changes such as the City Centre Masterplan interventions.”
Aberdeen City Council Planning Committee Vice Convener Councillor Desmond Bouse said: “It is important the Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2023 includes resilience measures for addressing climate change.
“It will also promote a low carbon economy through, for instance, encouraging greater energy efficiency, heat networks and greener transport and infrastructure.”
The report to committee said Full Council agreed the content of the Proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan on 3 March 2020 and, following a period for representations and consideration of those representations, the City Council agreed for the Proposed Plan to be submitted to Scottish Ministers for an Examination in Public on 21 June 2021.
The Examination in Public began in November 2021 and the Scottish Government Reporters have now completed their Examination of the Plan which outlined modifications and minor changes.
