we were asked if we could provide a of urban sprawl. We want to design This paper is an body of water that was at least 250m a community where residents will be opportunity for us to long to enable kayaking as such a able to walk to work, to school and facility is lacking in the area. We have to the shops with the inevitable social communicate the outcome managed to plan for this by the linking interaction that pedestrian activity brings. of the Charrette we held of two of the new ponds. Another Combining this place-making approach interesting idea that was raised with good house designs means we in September last year. concerned the difficulty we all have believe we will be able to create a most in receiving deliveries during the day. desirable living space in Aberdeenshire Under the guidance of world-renowned In response, one of the architects made and something of which all contributors planner Andrés Duany and his team the provision for a delivery cupboard in will be proud. purpose was to gather information from some of his house designs and this interested parties with a view to creating could be adopted more widely. The details of this masterplan will be a masterplan for our proposed new shown in an exhibition at Cookney Hall community. We are not attempting Following the Charrette, the architects on Wednesday the 30th March, from to present a fait accompli in terms of have continued to work on house 2pm to 9pm, and on Thursday 31st design. What has happened so far is designs and we now have over 40 March, from 10am to 8pm. This exhibition what I describe as the ‘pre-consultation available as a starting point. Whilst will represent the start of the next stage, the consultation’. This is a stage that has trying to avoid pastiche, many of these preparation of the planning application. traditionally been held behind closed tend towards the traditional but there are We hope you will be able to come along doors with the result that it becomes also those with a more contemporary and have a look. In the meantime all harder for the public to make their views look. For the first phase we will seek comments are welcome and they can count as the plan tends to harden the tight control over what is built, simply be submitted via the website at further down the road it gets. We fully because the speed of build-out that we www.chapeltonofelsick.co.uk expect to accommodate more comments hope to achieve requires it. However, as we proceed towards a planning in the longer term, it is our preference application. to allow a looser approach so that Earl of Southesk architects can express themselves to The Charrette was a period of great suit all tastes although a Design Code activity for the whole team of some will seek to impose certain limitations Page 1 Introduction 20 planners, architects, designers, to achieve an overall harmony. Page 2 Charrette Process illustrators, engineers and others. They all came together to generate a buzz All the work done so far has boosted Page 6 Masterplan of creativity as they interacted with each our confidence that we can create a Page 12 Regional and other and visitors and it was a real new town that is properly planned for Community Benefits pleasure to have been a part of it. Over the long term, breaking with the nature 300 attendees generated much helpful of past developments and looking to Page 22 Architecture feedback during the Charrette on matters remove the dependency on the car that Page 24 Next Steps of both scale and detail. For instance, has become unavoidable because For further information please visit www.chapeltonofelsick.co.uk 2 The Chapelton of Elsick Charrette The Chapelton Charrette Early Summer 2010 offered a rare opportunity The preparation leading up to the Charrette was extensive, with numerous professionals for south Aberdeenshire participating from across Scotland and residents to participate further afield. Specialists prepared detailed landscape, infrastructure and topographical directly in the design of studies to inform the masterplanning team. a major new town. The The design team’s local architects, Covell Matthews, also compiled studies of Charrette – during which northeastern Scotland’s architectural and the DPZ design team planning traditions, visiting Montrose, Stonehaven, Keith, Huntly and Fochabers, generated the Chapelton amongst other towns and villages. masterplan alongside the public – was only one element of a much longer consultation process. Some key moments from the Charrette and the process leading up to the event are detailed on these pages. Late Summer 2010 2 3 A new settlement for AberdeenshireA Pre-Charrette public Chapelton of Elsick will be an innovative, sustainable community The new community will provide The architecture of this new designed to meet the requirement for new homes in the Portlethen - much of the wider area’s housing settlement will also build on Community Stonehaven corridor in the Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan. including a range of building the history of its surroundings, If you have ever thought about It will give people the opportunity to I am writing to encourage To be promoted by the Elsick Development Company, which is a family- types and tenures ranging from reflecting the local building Facilities consultation began with you to take an interest in how much better you could make live, work and play with less reliance high-density in the centre vernacular and using traditional somewhere if given a clean slate on the car which is better for the controlled company representing the Duke of Fife and neighbouring Designed to be a new independent what we are doing with to low-density on the edge of materials, such as granite then this is your chance to actually planet, pocket and peace of mind. settlement, Chapelton of Elsick landowners, the new community will mark a departure from current the associated parkland. A town and stone. will include a wide variety of our proposed development do so. I hope that we will be able to centre will act as the settlement’s community facilities and amenities at Chapelton of Elsick, development practice and will offer an alternative to the single-use All of these design proposals events designed to raise We have appointed the renowned persuade you to join this interesting natural hub, and will include an to be used by both residents and which is part of the draft housing estates, which have become standard across the UK. and concepts - including those living nearby in Portlethen, Andrés Duany of Duany Plater- and exciting project because I really Academy, which will be fully town centre design, public Newtonhill and Cammachmore. Local Development Plan Zyberk & Company as master- do hope that in time to come we integrated into the town alongside transportation strategy and The scale of the settlement will for Aberdeenshire. planner. DPZ, based in the U.S., will all be able to look back and feel sporting, library and healthcare development of housing types - enable the delivery of these are world leaders in urban design. proud to have been a part of it. You facilities. The master plan will also amenities, all of which will be awareness of the Charrette, will be explored and discussed This reflects our ambition that our will find details about the charrette aim to integrate with and support planned within neighbourhoods throughout the charrette. scheme will be of the highest design in this paper: its structure, the the nearby towns and villages, designed to be easily accessible quality. Their experience in the timetable and something about by foot or cycle. These facilities including Portlethen, Newtonhill will include: design of Tornagrain (by Nairn) and the design team. Each meeting and Cammachmore, allowing including a meeting at the Grandhome (in Aberdeen) means and presentation is open to all. • Approximately 4000 homes, greater connectivity and improved that they know the North East and However, you will see that a number including 25% affordable homes public transport. the type and scale of development of the meetings will discuss specific integrated into the heart of the PortsoyPortsotsoys Macduffacduff Fraserburghrasserbrburgh we envisage. Also the way they work subjects and each will no doubt Banffanff community, as well as homes of a variety of sizes and types to chimes with our vision of creating attract specialists and particular AberchirderAberchirdder Cookney Hall, which was cater for a broad range of needs a community-based design and as interest groups such as business TTurriffurrifff PeterheadPeeterhead this is done through the charrette owners, planners, councillors, • A new Community Academy Huntly and up to 4 primary schools process it is entirely open to the environment and transport officials. Ellon with 20 hectares of playing public. Andrés will lead his team We are, of course, keen that local fields attended by approximately Oldmeldrumldr to facilitate discussion and draw residents should play a central part Inverurienveruriee • A flexible community space to I very much hope that you will be out ideas with the best being used. and therefore have set aside a host civic functions and local number of meetings to focus on KintoreKintore able to join us at our forthcoming I hope that you will be as excited events their aspirations and concerns. Cityi y ‘charrette’. This is explained more as I am in having the opportunity to Aberdeenshire Of • A public park and other areas of 140 people. Five thousand The charrette will be held at the Aboyne AAberAberdeenrdeedeeneen fully elsewhere in this paper but take part in the planning of a new open space, formal and informal Elsick Poolhouse and the public Portlethenoortlethentl essentially it is a ten day-long series community from scratch.