AGENDA ITEM NO 7

REPORT NO 245/13

ANGUS COUNCIL

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES COMMITTEE – 16 APRIL 2013

PROPOSED CITY AND SHIRE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN

REPORT BY STRATEGIC DIRECTOR – COMMUNITIES

ABSTRACT This report comments on and provides the suggested basis for the Councils response to the Proposed Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan.

1. RECOMMENDATION(S)

It is recommended that the Committee:-

(i) note the publication of the Proposed Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan;

(ii) agree that no formal representation be made by Angus Council to the Proposed Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan; and

(iii) agree that a copy of this report be submitted to Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan Authority for their interest.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 The Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan Authority has recently published their Proposed Plan which looks at the land use planning strategy for the North East of over the period to 2035. When approved by Scottish Ministers it will replace the current development plan - Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan – which was approved by Scottish Ministers in August 2009 and established a positive vision for the development of the area up to 2030.

2.2 The newly published Proposed Plan generally retains the previously established broad vision and strategy for the Aberdeen City and Shire area and sets a clear direction for the future development of the North East recognising the importance of improving links and communications, adding to the existing quality of life and providing opportunities for high quality sustainable development. The Proposed Plan is supported by a range of documents including Proposed Action Programme, Environmental Report, Habitats Regulations Appraisal, Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, Equalities and Human Rights Impact Assessment and Main Issues Consultation Report. The period for representations extends until 12 April 2013.

2.3 Members will recall that Infrastructure Services Committee at their meetings of 26 August and 25 November 2008 considered the draft Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan and possible implications of their land use planning strategy for infrastructure and services in North Angus (Reports 799/08 and 1146/08 refer). The Committee of 21 April 2009 subsequently agreed that no formal objection should be made to the Finalised Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan (Report 336/09 refers). The Structure Plan was approved by Scottish Ministers in 2009.

2.4 This report provides a synopsis of the Aberdeen City and Shire Proposed Strategic Development Plan and any implications for Angus Council as an adjoining planning authority. The report also provides the basis of a formal response on the document.

2.5 A copy of the Proposed Aberdeen City and Shire Plan has been placed in the Members’ Lounge. A copy of the supporting documents can be viewed on line at www.aberdeencityandshire-sdpa.gov.uk

1 3. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ABERDEEN CITY AND SHIRE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN

3.1 The purpose of the new Strategic Development Plan is to provide a clear direction for the future development of the North East within which the communities, public and private sectors can work together towards delivering an agreed vision and outcomes. In the main the land use planning spatial strategy has been retained from the previous approved Structure Plan 2009.

3.2 The spatial strategy continues to reflect three main strands:

 Strategic growth areas;  Local growth and diversification areas; and  Regeneration priority areas.

This is supported by targets for sustainable development and climate change; population growth; quality of the environment; sustainable mixed communities; and accessibility.

3.3 All parts of the strategic development plan area are either within a strategic growth area or a local growth area and diversification area. The strategy focuses development in places where there are clear opportunities to encourage people to use public transport. It also plans for significant growth in a limited number of places where there can be significant public and private investment in schools, community facilities and transport infrastructure without affecting people’s quality of life. The strategy provides the flexibility to meet the needs of local communities and also those areas that need investment to tackle important regeneration needs (through regeneration priority areas). The latter includes some of the coastal communities of north and south as well as inner parts of Aberdeen City.

3.4 There are four strategic growth areas identified – Aberdeen City; and the corridors between Aberdeen to ; Aberdeen to ; and Aberdeen to . Within these areas housing and employment allowances together with strategic infrastructure requirements are identified. Across the north east the Proposed Plan is planning for an increase in population of 35,000 over 24 years (to 2035); this will require a need of almost 54,000 new homes over the same period. This takes into account population growth as well as the significant change to the structure of the existing population as people in each household falls. In addition to meeting the housing needs the Proposed Plan also requires Local Development Plans to make sure that employment land is available to support the economy.

3.5 Outwith the four strategic growth areas, the majority of rural Aberdeenshire is identified as ‘Local growth and diversification areas’ where there is a need for diversification and growth in the economy in this area to meet local needs, with tourist related development having a role to play. Encouraging employment growth in these areas is a central part of making them more sustainable and reducing the need to commute, with its economic, social and environmental consequences. Within the regeneration priority areas it is about improving the economy, environmental quality, accessibility, employment opportunity and competiveness of business.

3.6 In terms of south Aberdeenshire (the area abutting north east Angus), the Aberdeen to Laurencekirk corridor is identified as a strategic growth area. This is split into two main areas:

 Portlethen – ; and  South of – Laurencekirk.

3.7 This area is a key corridor linking the region with central and southern Scotland as well as the rest of the UK. The main settlement is Stonehaven. While the bulk of new housing will be directed to the Portlethen/Stonehaven area (5,600 houses in the period to 2035); a new settlement is planned south of Portlethen at Chapelton Elswick. This will have significant infrastructure requirements including a new secondary and associated primary schools.

3.8 In the Drumlithie/Laurencekirk area the housing allowance is more limited; 1000 houses phased over the 2011 – 2035 period. This will be supported by the potential for expansion of a new secondary school in Laurencekirk (Mearns Academy Community Campus) which will replace the existing school on a nearby site. In terms of other infrastructure junction improvements are also indentified as being required. The housing allowance for Drumlithie/Laurencekirk is phased as follows:-

2 Housing allowances to 2016 500 Housing allowances 2017 - 26 400 Housing allowances 2027 - 35 100

3.9 In terms of economic development and particularly in relation to employment land, the Huntly – Laurencekirk corridor is identified as requiring some 105ha in the period 2026, with a strategic reserve of 70ha in the period 2027 – 2035. In the Portlethen – Laurencekirk corridor the existing employment land allowances of 62ha are expected to suffice until 2026, with a further 42ha in the period from 2027 to 2035.

3.10 The coastal villages south of Stonehaven (eg. , Gourdon, ) are identified as ‘regeneration priority areas’. The strategy response seeks to support ongoing community efforts and involve forming partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Further development of tourism in some coastal areas is also identified. The emphasis is on bringing about positive change that provide lasting benefits and improve their vitality and viability.

4. DISCUSSION

4.1 The Proposed Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan continues and builds on the recent spatial strategy established by the current Structure Plan, affording opportunity for the strategy to be implemented through Local Development Plans etc. It recognises that it takes time for development proposals to come forward but clearly continues the vision and ambitions for the North east of Scotland. This is supported by clearly articulated objectives, targets, delivery mechanisms and monitoring arrangements to ensure that the strategy can be delivered.

4.2 During the earlier process involving the Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan the Infrastructure Services Committee considered the possible implications of the spatial development strategy as it related to south Aberdeenshire and its impact on north Angus. (Report 1146/08 refers) This considered aspects such as sports and countryside services, housing, education, roads and transport, economic development and social work. At that stage, while there were some positive benefits for north Angus such as increased level of custom for retail and recreational facilities, services like education, roads and social work considered that the impact would be mostly neutral although a watching brief would continue to be required as the strategy moves forward to the implementation phase. It was considered that it was not until the detail of future projects was known that the true impact could be assessed, although it was not considered to be significant at this stage.

4.3 The adopted Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan (June 2012) has already implemented the spatial strategy of the Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan 2009 through establishing land allocations in line with that document. At Laurencekirk a mixed use site, new housing (885 houses over two phases) and employment land (an initial 11ha and a strategic reserve of 16ha), will be brought forward through a masterplan process. At (former RAF Edzell) up to 300 houses (in two phases of 150 houses) will be brought forward again subject to a masterplan. Significantly smaller land allocations for housing are made in the Mearns villages also in line with the Structure Plan strategy. It should be noted that because of the economic down turn housing projects in particular have not come forward has expected.

4.4 The Infrastructure Services Committee at their meeting of 24 August 2010 agreed that no formal objection should be made to the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan. (Report 583/10 refers). The broad strategy and land allocations as they affect south Aberdeenshire are taken through into the adopted Local Development Plan (2012).

4.5 Given the roll forward of the existing spatial strategy and both housing and employment land requirements for the south Aberdeenshire and the fact that land allocations have already been made through the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan in line with the current spatial strategy, it is considered that there is no strategic planning issue for the north Angus area and no formal objection should be made to the Proposed Plan.

4.6 In terms of our own planning position TAYplan (the Strategic Development Plan for Dundee, Angus, Perth and North Fife) has been approved by Scottish Ministers (June 2012). The development strategy supports new development in the principal settlements of north Angus – Brechin and Montrose (and across other parts of Angus) where new development can make a contribution to the regional economy. The Council recently published Local Development Plan 3 Main Issues Report (November 2012) sets out preferred and reasonable alternatives to deliver housing and economic development in Angus in line with the TAYplan strategy. The Council will over the course of the coming months develop a Proposed Angus Local Development Plan that meets the needs of Angus in the period to 2024. Planning & Transport will of course continue to monitor planning applications of strategic interest (such as the development proposals at Edzell Woods/former Edzell Airfield) in the context of our aspirations for north Angus and the development strategy for south Aberdeenshire established through the new Strategic Development Plan and Local Development Plan for Aberdeenshire.

5. RISKS

There is no risk issue to the Council arising from this report.

6. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial implications arising from this report.

7. HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS

There are no human rights implications arising from this report.

8. EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

The issues dealt with in this report have been the subject of consideration from an equalities perspective (as required by legislation). An equalities impact assessment is not required. It should also be noted that Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan Authority have undertaken and published an Equalities and Human Rights Impact Assessment as part of the range of published documents.

9. ANGUS COMMUNITY PLAN AND SINGLE OUTCOME AGREEMENT

This report responds to a document of an external agency and consequently does not directly contribute to the local outcomes contained within the Angus Community Plan and Single Outcome Agreement 2011-2014.

10. STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

There are no SEA implications for Angus Council. It should be noted that Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan Authority have undertaken SEA of heir Proposed Plan and published an Environmental Report.

11. CONSULTATION

The Chief Executive, Director of Corporate Services, Director of Education, Head of Finance and Head of Law & Administration have been consulted during the preparation of this report.

12. CONCLUSION

The Scottish planning system requires that development plans are kept up to date and reviewed within a five year cycle. The Proposed Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan rolls forward the vision and broad development strategy from the previously approved Structure Plan providing continuity for the development industry and also for preparation of Local Development Plans in the Aberdeen City and Shire area.

ALAN MCKEOWN STRATEGIC DIRECTOR - COMMUNITIES

4

NOTE: The background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than any containing confidential or exempt information) which were relied on to any material extent in preparing the above report are:

 Proposed Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan (February 2013); published by the Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Plan Authority;

 Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan (approved by Scottish Ministers 2009);

 Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2012; adopted by Aberdeenshire Council June 2012;

 TAYplan 2012 -2032, Strategic Development Plan; published by the for Dundee, Angus, Perth and North Fife Strategic Development Plan Authority;

 Angus Local Development Plan Main Issues Report, published by Angus Council November 2012;

 Angus Local Plan Review adopted by Angus Council February 2009;

 Report 583/10 Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2010; to Infrastructure Services Committee, 24 August 2010;

 Report 336/09 Finalised Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan; to Infrastructure Services Committee 21 April 2009;

 Report 1146/08 Aberdeen City and Shire Draft structure Plan follow up report – implications for infrastructure and services in North Angus; to Infrastructure Services Committee 25 November 2008;

 Report 799/08 Aberdeen City and Shire Draft Structure Plan; to Infrastructure Services Committee 26 August 2008

P&T/GWC/GDP/IAL 19 March 2013

5