Housing and development group, Taylor Wimpey, has expressed delight at the public interest and feedback received in its proposals for development of land at Souterford on the Oldmeldrum Road, Inverurie.

In a community engagement event held at the Wyness Hall, Jackson Street on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th March, those attending provided feedback on proposals for the site, which measures over 9 hectares and will create a high quality living environment.

Development at Souterford represents a logical location for a high-quality residential led development and would reflect continued growth to the east of the town and benefit from recent improvements to infrastructure within the area.

Taylor Wimpey’s proposal is for a high quality residential, sustainable and deliverable development of up to 300 houses (including affordable housing), meeting strong demand for good quality family homes. Developed as an estate village, the development will include a broad range of residential accommodation including detached and semi-detached homes and mews/courtyard developments. In keeping with council policy, affordable homes will also be provided within the development mix.

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A new primary school with community facilities will also potentially be introduced within the north west sector of the site. The new facility will be designed to allow direct access to a proposed new meadow parkland and will include a range of sports and play facilities.

The feedback demonstrated that there was a strong desire for housing, especially affordable housing and for a new primary school and potential new link road extending between the Oldmeldrum Road (B9170) and A96, easing traffic congestion impacting on the town.

A network of new footpaths and cycleways will be introduced to provide access across the site, with new landscaped open space and meadow parkland, and there is the potential to introduce new links to the Keith Hall estate via the estate access road.

The site, lying out with the 1 in 200 year flood plain, benefits from excellent transport links and is ideally located to allow easy access into Inverurie town centre for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as to the railway station and transport links.

Commenting on the engagement event, Elspeth Lamb, Strategic Land Manager for Taylor Wimpey said: "We were extremely encouraged by the positive feedback we received from those attending, supporting new housing, primary school and a link road.

This will be fed back to the community and include in our representation to the proposed Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan.

"The site is excellently positioned for future development and achieved one of the highest scores in the Inverurie Capacity Study.

"Inverurie is in need of good quality family housing, reflected in the feedback we received and a new primary school to accommodate increased demand."

(GK)