Aberdeenshire Council has announced that its planning service will not be able to support any new planning applications for residential development in the catchment area of Kintore Primary School for the foreseeable future.

The unusual step has been taken as Kintore Primary School is at capacity and the applications will not be supported until new primary and pre-school places can be provided.

Developments that have already secured planning permission will not be affected by the move.

Kintore Primary School was opened in March 2007, more than doubling the previous capacity from 205 to 430, offering a range of modern facilities for pre-school, support for learners, community learning and development, family centre, public library, a multi-purpose hall and an all-weather pitch.

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The school was designed to meet the needs of the community based on the best information that the authority had at the time of planning and it continues to serve Kintore well. Four additional classrooms have been added to the site since it opened, and a further two will be added by this summer.

Aberdeenshire continues to buck the national trend in terms of population growth and demand for services. The latest projections show that the Aberdeenshire population is expected to rise by 22% by 2033, against the Scottish average of just 7%.

Since the opening of the school the population of Kintore has increased at a rapid rate and continues to be attractive for developers given its relative proximity to Aberdeen City and good transport links.

In 2007 projections highlighted that Kintore’s population was expected to increase by 27% between 2006 and 2016. These forecasts are likely to increase even further, based on the latest population statistics.

Aberdeenshire Council is currently preparing a Local Development Plan for the whole of Aberdeenshire, including strategic implications for the future growth of Kintore.

The plan has been developed with significant input from local communities and it will help shape the future direction of development in the town.

The Local Development Plan will be considered by the Council in the summer.

(GK/BMcc)