The joint venture partnership behind a £250 million development of the Mill of Forest area in Stonehaven today confirmed that they are to submit a planning application to take their ambitious plans forward and create a sustainable future for the Aberdeenshire town.
Key elements of the Barratt East Scotland and Drum Property Group proposals include up to 1,500 new houses (including affordable housing), a 5,500 sq m food store, hotel, a 500 sq m neighbourhood shopping precinct and a business park of up to 25 acres with a ‘gateway’ entrance. Major infrastructure improvements to transport links ands other amenities such as community facilities are also included in the plan.
The plan has been finalised following over 12 months of positive public consultation and extensive discussions with planning officials and the local business community. The partners believe it now represents the ideal opportunity to put in place a sustainable development which will reinvigorate the local economy and meet the needs of an expanding population by delivering new homes, services and infrastructure.
The plan includes investment of £180 million in new housing, with up to 150 houses being built per year over a 10 – 15 year period. The retail element, which includes the town’s first large, modern foodstore, would be constructed during the project’s first 18 months.
300,000 sq ft of business space is planned over a ten year timescale at a cost of £30 million. Infrastructure and amenities should be completed within the first four years at a combined cost of £30 million.
“The extensive consultation we have engaged in over a sustained period has enabled us to produce a ‘masterplan’ for Mill of Forest which meets all the recognised criteria in terms of realising far reaching socioeconomic gains for Stonehaven and the north east,” commented David Scott, Barratt East Scotland Operations Director.
“These include the provision of a full mix of housing, including first time buyers and affordable family homes, considerable employment opportunities, additional commercial property supply, enhanced transport links and infrastructure and community facilities improvements.”Independent economic and retail studies commissioned by the partners late last year estimated that the project would lead to £105 million of additional economic activity per year for the area by 2025. In addition, it would lead to around 1,000 permanent new jobs when completed as well as 275 jobs during the construction phase.
“We are ready to press ahead with our plans and deliver a development which will go a long way to securing a viable economic future for Stonehaven and which will bring wide ranging benefits to the community and help maintain the vitality and prosperity of local businesses,” commented Drum Property Group Director Graeme Bone.
“It has become quite clear that the vast majority of local people feel that the town needs a proper food store. In addition, during our consultation process they expressed many frustrations and concerns about then town’s reliance on public sector jobs, particularly in light of impending Government cost cutting measures.
“The mixed use nature of our proposals provide the opportunity to considerably diversify Stonehaven’s economic base and they meet all the requirements for a sustainable settlement expansion in Aberdeenshire.
“We believe the vast majority of people and businesses in Stonehaven are keen on the positive changes we are proposing and we welcome comments from this hitherto unspoken majority on a development which will secure the town’s future for many years to come.”
Posted on Jun 10th 2010
