Proposals for a new development within a country park setting on the outskirts of the city to help solve the acute shortage of land for business and housing use were unveiled today.

Banchory & Leggart Estates, who owns 1,500 acres of land to the south of the city, are behind the proposals which they hope will be considered in the Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan and the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan.

The land for the development is currently farmland and would need to be re-zoned in the local plan.

The proposals would provide almost 100 acres of much needed land for business use and 500 acres of land for mixed housing alongside a new 900 acre country park.

An economic impact study has revealed that 6,000 new jobs could be created by this development. The findings from independent studies by DTZ and Tribal, commissioned by Banchory & Leggart Estates, also clearly demonstrate there is demand for a new high quality business park in, or close to, the city.

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Rupert Lumsden of Banchory & Leggart Estates says: "We want to deliver a sensitive, sustainable, highly attractive mixed use development designed to promote economic growth of the region.

"The concept is for a balanced community with up to 3,000 homes which is linked to the services needed to offer an attractive place to work and live. We are therefore incorporating community, infrastructure, employment, transport and local facilities right from the outset."

The business park being proposed would meet demand for high quality business land in an attractive location and attract investment and employment to the region.

Taking inspiration from high quality office developments such as Edinburgh Park, the business park would seek to attract corporate headquarters, as well as smaller innovative companies looking for research and development facilities.

The Robert Gordon University has already agreed to look at locating premises for spin-out research and development companies in the business park and plans for building a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Dee between to link the Garthdee campus and the estate are under discussion.

(GK/JM)