A blueprint has been approved which will help to shape Aberdeen’s future land use and guide planning decisions including housing developments, leisure, and industrial zones in the city.
The modified Aberdeen local development plan was approved at a full Aberdeen City Council meeting and will be adopted over the coming days, with it first sent to Scottish ministers for an examination in public in June 2021.
Health and wellbeing are described as ‘key’ components of the plan, reflecting both their historic connection with planning and the need to ensure healthcare services are provided, as well as creating environments that foster health, encourage active lifestyles, and reduce inequalities in well-being.
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’s planning development management committee convener, councillor Ciaran McRae, said, “We welcome the adoption of the Aberdeen local development plan 2023 after approval from the Scottish ministers.
“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.”
Vice convener, councillor Desmond Bouse, added, “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.”
