Aberdeenshire Council has unveiled a new pilot project, the "2025 Delivery Programme," designed to highlight significant development opportunities on long-term undeveloped sites across the region.

This live document will provide ongoing progress updates on allocated sites and relevant information from landowners and developers. The programme can be viewed on the Aberdeenshire Council website.

This initiative builds on the success of two interactive maps launched last year – the Employment Land Prospectus and the Housing Site Prospectus – which showcase unused land and collectively attracted nearly 3,000 visits. These sites are formally allocated for employment or housing in the 2023 Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan, having undergone public consultation and formal examination by Scottish Ministers.

Developed by the council's Place Information and Delivery Team, the prospectuses offer developers a comprehensive list of available sites allocated in the Local Development Plan. Utilising digital interactive mapping tools, they provide text and data for individual sites of varying sizes, allowing users to visualise locations with geo-spatial information and details organised across Aberdeenshire's six administrative areas.

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The new Delivery Programme will further enhance these resources by featuring a new style of site brief. These briefs will showcase key features of individual sites, including more detailed information and visual elements such as site topography, constraints, local facilities, and their relationship to the surrounding area.

Aberdeenshire currently has a population of approximately 262,000, which increased by 15.8% between 2001 and 2021. Figures from the National Records of Scotland project a further 24% population growth by 2039 for the northeast, underscoring the increasing demand for new housing.

Councillor Alan Turner, chair of the council's Infrastructure Services Committee, stated, "With so many unused sites across the region offering tremendous potential, it's vital we do everything we can to support their development – be that for new housing, commercial activities or leisure opportunities." He highlighted Aberdeenshire's diverse sectors, including energy, renewables, life sciences, technology, and digital, affirming the council's commitment to fulfilling demand and expanding the business environment through development opportunities.

The council's Place Information and Delivery Team actively encourages discussions on developing these sites. They anticipate providing positive support and advice throughout the planning and statutory processes to help secure favourable outcomes for considered proposals. Developers and landowners seeking assistance or guidance on bringing forward development sites or with queries regarding the Delivery Programme can contact the Delivery Team at [email protected].