Dear

Response on Behalf of Fintray Community Council – City and Shire Strategic Development Plan – Proposed Plan

I am writing on behalf of Community Council to provide the Community Council’s comments on the Proposed Plan. This response was approved by the Community Council on 4 December 2018.

The Community Council would like you to consider the following points:

• Vision, Page 7 – We are supportive of the vision and agree there must be an ongoing balance between economic development, housing and the protection of our environment. • Page 7, 2.3, Bullet 5 – We would suggest that the point should include public transport being available, as well as attractive. As a village close to the City and , we have no daily public transport which is very limiting for those without personal transportation. • Spatial Strategy – Page 8, 3.4, We strongly agree that growth plans should be limited to a number of places and be within areas that benefit quality of life and provide the flexibility to meet the needs of local communities. • Strategic Growth Areas – Page 10, 3.10 – Should also include a statement ensuring these areas are connected to high speed digital infrastructure. • Strategic Growth Areas – Page 10, 3.12 – Should clarify if the referenced areas for food growing is for communities or commercial purposes. The Community Council supports community food growing; we have recently planted a Community Orchard within the village. • Page 13 – Map of Aberdeen City Strategic Growth Area – Whilst we accept that this map is illustrative, please note that the Hatton of Fintray Community Council area is wholly within the Council local authority area, not as indicated by the map as within Aberdeen City local authority area. The map also suggests that the Hatton of Fintray area is not covered by Green Belt. In fact, the area immediately east and south of the village of Hatton of Fintray and surrounding countryside toward Aberdeen is currently designed Green Belt. We would like the map adjusted to reflect this and retain the Green Belt designation as it currently is. • Page 13 – Map of Aberdeen City Strategic Growth Area - It could be interpreted from the illustrative map that Hatton of Fintray is now included in the Strategic Growth Area of Aberdeen to . We do not support this and would ask that the map is updated to exclude the Hatton of Fintray area. • Page 13 and 19 – Maps of Aberdeen City and Aberdeen to Huntly Strategic Growth Areas and Page 40, 6.11 and Action Programme, Action 15 – The maps indicate that there is a walking / active travel opportunity along the River Don from to Inverurie. The text on green networks in the SDPA and Action Programme supports well designed and located networks, as well as the opportunity to develop green networks. There is currently no river path or off-road path between Dyce and Inverurie, and the Community Council would be keen to know of any proposal to introduce one and be consulted on this. • Local Growth and Diversification Areas – Page 23, 3.48 – We support the need to increase tree cover in the region. This section should reference the need to support native species and improve recreation in woodland and forests. We support commercial forestry; however, we would like it indicated that it should fit appropriately into the landscape of the region. • Our Communities – Pages 26 to 33 – As we believe the Hatton of Fintray area to be outside the Aberdeen to Huntly Strategic Growth Area, any proposed housing allocation should reflect this; and be scaled appropriately to reflect the existing size of the community. We further ask that the Strategic Plan supports the statements highlighted in Section 4 with regard to the unique setting of the Hatton of Fintray area, namely; existing habitats are protected, the quality of the environment and place are reflected, any new homes are well designed and respect local distinctions, that the current (lack of) access to local facilities and supporting infrastructure is noted and that the contribution to the historic and natural environment is recognised. These comments are in line with our written submission to the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2021 – Main Issues Report pre-consultation, 5 December 2017, in which we noted that we didn't support any changes to the current land and housing allocation. • Our Resources – Page 38, 6.3 – Flooding, Water Supply and the Coast – We support the approach to ensure any new development are future proofed to take account of extreme weather. However, we would also like to see it included in the text that this needs to extend to exiting settlements and buildings where the impact of flooding can be increased due to upstream new developments. An extensive part of the Hatton of Fintray Community Council area lies in the River Don flood plain and we wish to see no further impact from upstream developments that may impact on our flood plain and put it under further pressure. • Our Resources – Page 38, 6.3 – Flooding, Water Supply and the Coast – We would further like to see specific mention of the need for the local authorities to work together to protect the River Don flood plain. • Green Belt and Green Networks – Page 40, 6.9 – The Community Council strongly supports the statement on the purpose and function of the Aberdeen Green Belt.

I trust that these comments are useful and will be taken account of.

Yours sincerely,

Chairman, Hatton of Fintray Community Council