More than 1,500 Aberdeen homes delayed for nearly a decade
Councillors in Aberdeen have voted to delay the construction of more than 1,500 homes on the outskirts of the city due to increasing costs.
The site at Greenferns Landward, which is about 69.6-hectares, would have seen a residential-led development of approximately 1,570 homes, a new primary school, local neighbourhood retail and commercial space, leisure and community uses, a gypsy traveller site, landscaping, and open space.
It was envisaged that the new primary school would include facilities available to the wider community the siting and the layout of the proposed new primary school is still being designed. There was also scope for new bespoke community spaces to be provided in the development to form a neighbourhood centre.
During a meeting of full council on Wednesday, SNP councillor Miranda Radley suggested that building work on the new homes be put on hold until 2032.
She also asked for the council to focus first on delivering the delayed housing developments at Craighill and Kincorth. Rising costs associated with construction forced the council to suspend the delivery of more than 300 council homes across the two developments in December.
Ms Radley said: “Ensuring our citizens have warm, secure homes that are fit for the future is a priority for our partnership.
“We are in an unprecedented time with the fallout from Brexit, the ongoing impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.
“One of the first decisions our administration made was the unfortunate decision to delay Craighill and Kincorth – the figures didn’t add up due to those external factors.
“Our direction is ensuring we have a sustainable strategy for housing.”
After going to a vote, 23 members backed Ms Radley’s proposal.