Cala Homes seeks to further strengthen Inverurie ties with £28m investment
Cala Homes is seeking to deepen its links with an Aberdeenshire community with plans to invest £28 million in a new phase of development.
The housebuilder is proposing to build 95 new homes at Conglass in Inverurie after selling out a neighbouring project in 2021
The plans will go before councillors on the Garioch Area Committee on Tuesday, with council officers recommending the development be granted planning consent.
The masterplan for the project – which sits north-west of Inverurie Town Centre – has already been approved by local councillors and the site is allocated for residential development in the Local Plan.
The detailed planning application has been shaped by feedback from councillors and the local community. It will have almost 25,000 square metres of open space, which will account for over 40% of the site.
If approved, it will see the creation of 40 four-bedroom homes, 31 five-bedroom homes, alongside the delivery of 24 new affordable homes.
The affordable housing provision has been shaped through extensive engagement with the local authority to ensure it meets local needs.
As a result of that collaboration, the project now includes 12 one-bedroom cottage flats, as well as a mix of larger affordable properties.
In a report going before councillors on Tuesday, Alan Wood, director of environment and infrastructure services at Aberdeenshire Council, says the proposed mix “satisfies particular needs and larger families which is welcome”.
The housing project will mark the latest phase in a decade of Cala Homes investment in the town. The firm is the main sponsor of Highland League side Inverurie Loco Works and has supported the club for a number of years.
The Conglass plans will add a second phase to the housebuilder’s previous 57-home development, The Grove at Inverurie, which sold out at the end of 2021.
Ross Maclennan, land director at Cala Homes (North), said: “Our first phase of homes at Conglass was a great success, and we are confident that this second phase will be a positive addition to the community, harmoniously complementing the existing homes.
“The final plans for the site have been shaped by an extended period of consultation and collaboration with the community and local authority, resulting at a proposal which will create a beautiful new community which addresses a number of local housing needs.
“Our place in the Inverurie community goes far beyond building homes, and alongside our Conglass investment we will also implement our Community Pledge initiative, creating a bespoke plan of community support for the local area, which can include donations, volunteering, school programmes and more.”
If approved, work on the development will begin within months, supporting more than 100 jobs during the construction phase. The project will also generate several million pounds for the public finances through planning gain, council tax and land and buildings transaction tax receipts.