New Aberdeenshire Town, Andres Duany Building News, Cairnhill Development Project Design, Elsick Property

Chapelton Aberdeenshire : Northeast Scotland New Town

New Scottish Community for Elsick Development Company design by Andres Duany

7 Jul 2016

Japanese study group learns from Chapelton development

A group of Japanese housebuilding professionals have visited Scotland’s largest planned new town as part of a study they are conducting examining sustainable communities within Europe.

Chapelton Development News

More than 20 managers and directors from the Machinami Foundation (The Street Scene Foundation) were accompanied on a tour of Chapelton, which is located five miles south of Aberdeen, by The Duke of Fife who is leading the development of the project.

Findings from the visit will help the Foundation to encourage a shift from the focus being placed on the quantity of housing to quality instead. The intention is that this will bring about a positive change for local Japanese residents and their lifestyle.

Speaking of the visit, The Duke of Fife, director of Elsick Development Company, said: “It was a great pleasure to host the Machinami Foundation on site in Chapelton. The group was particularly interested in learning more about our commitment to providing a sustainable community in the Northeast of Scotland which boasts a range of house type designs and facilities, which allow our residents to live, work and enjoy their leisure time right here at Chapelton

Established in 1979, the Machinami Foundation aims to improve the quality of housing in Japan by studying both residential lifestyles and environments.

Yuichi Matsushima, executive director of the Foundation, added: “We have all found it extremely beneficial to visit Chapelton. Elsick Development Company’s focus on new urbanism and offering local residents a positive lifestyle can be easily seen in the already well-established community.

“In addition to the wide variety of property types, Chapelton residents are enjoying the local facilities, infrastructure, green space and commercial outlets. The study of each of these aspects will very much help us in driving change in Japan in order to bring about a new way of thinking when planning and developing towns.”

29 Jan 2014

Chapelton New Town

Bird’s eye view of Scotland’s largest new town unveiled

A bird’s eye view of how 2,000 acres of Aberdeenshire farmland will be transformed into Scotland’s largest new town has been unveiled by Lord Southesk, director of Elsick Development Company.

In a five-minute animation, visuals of homes, high streets, parks, schools and a medical centre at the 8,000 home Chapelton development are revealed – the first time the whole £2bn development has been presented Chapelton film – external link

Work started on site in October 2013 and the first houses will be available to buy later this year.
Lord Southesk said: “This animation shows that Chapelton is fundamentally different to other developments. The complete town is planned from the outset.

“There will be places to work, places to eat and socialise, shops and schools. Every day needs will be within a five-minute walk and because there is 40 per cent green space the entire built area will feel open.
“The architecture blends the old with the new. It draws influence from older styles built with the latest mod cons and the latest design features to accommodate modern living.”

Housebuilders ZeroC Holdings, AJC Homes and A & J Stephen will start to deliver the first houses from spring 2014.
Town architect Gavin Murray from Brooks Murray Architects said: “It is important Chapelton sits comfortably in the Aberdeenshire landscape, so we have drawn heavily from the best precedents set by a number of neighbouring historic towns and villages, including Stonehaven and Banchory.”

Chapelton is located five miles south of Aberdeen.

For more information visit www.chapeltonofelsick.co.uk.

3 Oct 2013

Chapelton Starts On Site

Scotland’s Largest New Town Starts on Site

Design: Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk

Cairn Seat Unveiled at Heart of 8,000 Home, £2bn Town in Aberdeenshire

New School and Healthcare Facility Planned in First Few Years

Work is now underway to create Scotland’s largest new town, Chapelton, five miles south of Aberdeen, following a founding ceremony today, Wednesday 2 October 2013.

The £8 million infrastructure work, required to service the development, is being carried out by local firm WM Donald.

Developed by Elsick Development Company (EDC) Chapelton will be an 8,000 home, £2bn town with 40 per cent green space and a focus on sustainable community living.

Over 100 guests attended the ceremony to witness the unveiling of a cairn seat in the gardens of Elsick House, which will become a civic space at the centre of the town.

The cairn seat was created by Perth-based artist David F Wilson, who used reclaimed materials from the site to create a landmark design. Those attending each added a stone to the cairn to mark the occasion.

Lord Southesk, Director of Elsick Development Company, said: “This momentous day is the culmination of many years of planning. It will be really exciting to see the diggers start on site creating what will become a thriving new sustainable community with a busy high street, schools, healthcare facilities and lots of green space on 2,000 acres of farmland.

“We have now completed a range of house designs to suit a variety of needs and with a focus on modern living. Housebuilders Zero C Holdings, AJC Homes and A&J Stephen will start to deliver the first homes from Spring 2014.

Speaking at the ceremony Aberdeenshire Provost, Jill Webster said: “Chapleton is an exciting new concept for Aberdeenshire and I am pleased to see the first steps being taken to turn the plans into reality.

“The Elsick Development Company has worked closely in collaboration with Aberdeenshire Council to ensure that this new town fits the needs of its new residents and creates a blueprint for similar developments in the future, prioritising infrastructure, facilities and open spaces.”

Facilities for those living at Chapelton and in neighbouring towns are planned early in the development. Designs are already in development for the first school, which is likely to open in 2018. EDC has also pledged to work closely with NHS Grampian to facilitate early delivery of healthcare services.

Lord Southesk said: “We have worked closely with the local community since the very early days of planning and want to enhance life for those living around Chapelton as well as within it.

“Schools will be at the heart of community life and we are working with the Council and our education specialists to deliver an exciting building that will inspire life-long education and become a hub for local people.

For more information visit www.chapeltonofelsick.co.uk.

22 Sep 2013

Chapelton Infrastructure News

Infrastructure Company Named for Chapelton

W M Donald Wins £8m Tender for Works on Scotland’s Largest New Town

W M Donald has been named as the civil infrastructure works provider for the first phase of Chapelton, Scotland’s largest planned new town.

The Aberdeenshire-based civil engineering construction firm was selected after a competitive and lengthy tender process, beating off a number of other local and national firms.

Six companies were invited to tender for the £8m contract, which will include roads, drainage, services and landscaping to support the first stage of 255 homes in the first Chapelton neighbourhood, Cairnhill.

Cairnhill will be the first of seven neighbourhoods at Chapelton that transform 2,000 acres of farmland into a thriving new community in the northeast of Scotland including schools, offices and a vibrant high street.

Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for Chapelton which will eventually create 8,000 new homes in a £2bn development – making it Scotland’s largest settlement for a generation.

W M Donald currently employs over 50 members of staff and the contract will bring significant employment opportunities to the local area.

William Donald, Managing Director of W M Donald, said: “This is a very exciting project for us to be involved in and we look forward to creating a number of jobs for local people.

“Being on board at the start of such a flagship development is great news for us and we look forward to starting work on the site as soon as possible.”

W M Donald has worked on a number of projects within the Aberdeen city and shire area since the company was founded in 1977 including business parks, housing developments, traffic calming works and commercial developments.

Lord Southesk, Director of Elsick Development Company (EDC), said: “We are very pleased to be working with a local company of proven ability to get the project underway. Today’s announcement is a statement of intent that we are moving from the planning to the construction phase. It will be very exciting to see the diggers begin. It won’t be long until we see a community emerging and, in the longer term, schools, community facilities, commercial space and a vibrant high street.”

For more information visit www.chapeltonofelsick.co.uk

22 May 2013

Chapelton News

Chapelton announces house builders for new £1bn town

Design: Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk

Wednesday 22 May 2013 – Three house builders confirmed for phase one of Scotland’s Largest New Town These include Zero C which won seven awards for its work at the Olympic Athletes’ Village at Portland for the sailors at London 2012 (pictured below).

Olympic Athletes’ Village at Portland, England:

image of Zero C project

Elsick Development Company (EDC) has agreed heads of terms with three house builders today who will be responsible for delivering a range of house types at Scotland’s largest new town, Chapelton, 10 miles south of Aberdeen.

ZeroC Holdings in partnership with Hope Homes, AJC Homes and A&J Stephen Ltd will build the first 225 homes at Chapelton, which could eventually deliver 8,000 new homes.

This announcement follows a recent decision by Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee to grant approval for an outline application for 4,045 homes and a detailed application for the first 802 homes.

The tender process for the infrastructure works for the first phase of Chapelton is also now underway. Six companies have been invited to tender for the multi-million-pound contract, to support the first stage of 255 homes in the first Chapelton neighbourhood, Cairnhill.

Lord Southesk, Director of EDC, said: “Today’s announcement is another major milestone for us and takes us another step closer to getting construction underway.

“After securing permission for a detailed planning application from the council we are rapidly moving towards the implementation of a new community, which in the long-term could include up to 8,000 homes.

“We are very excited by the calibre of the three house builders we will be working with to make Chapelton a distinctive and attractive new town. They are the perfect fit for EDC and Chapelton. These companies are renowned for building high quality, sustainable homes, which is central to our plans for Chapelton.”

Kim Slowe, Managing Director of ZeroC Holdings, said: “We’re delighted to announce plans to build some of the homes in phase one of Chapelton. The process of working closely with EDC and other interested house builders to design homes has been extremely beneficial.

“We have been involved with EDC from the design phase so we can guarantee a level of quality control while ensuring that the properties are buildable and compatible with the market.”

ZeroC Holdings, in partnership with Hope Homes, recently completed the first phase of homes on the Prince of Wales’ estate at Knockroon, Cumnock and is also one of the developers on his Poundbury development in Dorset.

The firm also won seven major national awards for its work at the Olympic Athletes’ Village in Portland, which housed the sailors for London 2012 in Dorset.

Another of the three house builders is AJC Homes – a privately-owned high-quality house builder, based in Aberdeenshire.

Alistair Aboyne, Managing Director of AJC Homes said: “Our remit as high-quality residential developers has always been to offer homes which will provide lasting value through quality of design and build. The distinctive design concept at Chapelton of Elsick particularly suits our ethos.

“AJC Homes are proud to be associated with the development at Chapelton where a unique environment will be created for the lasting benefit and enjoyment of all those fortunate enough to live there.”

John Stephen, Managing Director of A&J Stephen Ltd, added: “The family firm was established in 1935 and our philosophy has remained unchanged: insistence on the highest standards.

“Our hallmark is obvious in every home we build – in its layout, standard of finish, fittings and the thought that goes into the smallest features and it is for these reasons we feel there is a close fit with what EDC are looking to establish at Chapelton and what we at Stephen can deliver.

“We bring over 75 years’ experience to the project. With our recent track record of delivering high quality, award-winning new homes under our Stephen Country Homes brand at Clathymore there is a real enthusiasm to bring this experience to Chapelton.’’

It is intended that the housebuilders will commence on site in the spring of 2014.

For more information visit www.chapeltonofelsick.co.uk.

30 Apr 2013

South Aberdeenshire New Town Planning News

Aberdeenshire gives green light to Scotland’s largest new town

Design: Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk

Thursday 30 April 2013 – Outline planning permission granted for 4,045 homes ten miles south of Aberdeen with 8,000 planned in the long-term.

£2bn Development will bring 8,000 new jobs to the area with work beginning in Summer 2013

Ambitious plans for Chapelton, Scotland’s largest new town, were given the go-ahead today (Tuesday 30 April 2013) paving the way for work to begin on the first new neighbourhood, ten miles south of Aberdeen.

An aerial view of Hume Square, Chapelton:

image of Chapelton

Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk (DPZ) designed Chapelton, working alongside a team of local architects and engineers, as well as the Aberdeenshire community through the charrette process. DPZ is the global pioneer of New Urbanism, a movement promoting the development of walkable, mixed-use communities as an alternative to conventional suburban development.

The Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee granted an approval for an outline planning application to start transforming 2,000 acres of farmland into a vibrant new community for the northeast of Scotland. The detailed application for the first 802 homes was also passed.

The town will offer a pedestrian friendly, mixed-use environment for residents, with a focus on community living.

From an extensive range of homes and schools through to a well-planned town centre and green space, developers will deliver a new sustainable community on a highly significant scale.

The long-term masterplan includes a total of seven neighbourhoods, creating the potential for up to 8,000 homes, thus making it Scotland’s largest new settlement for a generation.

The news follows an extensive community engagement programme designed to ensure that as many as 5,000 locals had their voices heard during the consultation process.

In June 2012 updated designs for Chapelton were unveiled at a public exhibition following feedback from the local community. Modifications included changes to address transport and infrastructure requirements.

Lord Southesk, director of Elsick Development Company (EDC), said: “From day one of this process we have taken on board a very broad range of views to ensure that the plan is as well designed as possible. This has resulted in several amendments to the scheme and additional supporting technical, environmental and design information.

“Today’s news means we can potentially be on site in the Autumn and it will be very exciting to begin work on this landmark project. We believe that Chapelton will be a major economic boost to the area as well as addressing the need for housing of all types.

“With up to 8,000 homes planned in the long-term, as well as schools, community facilities and commercial space, Chapelton is set to become a major new Aberdeenshire community.”

Chapelton will include industrial and business development, within the site and on land adjacent to Newtonhill, and is estimated to generate approximately 8,000 jobs. It was recently announced that developers Elsick Development Company (EDC) has appointed Turner & Townsend to project manage the delivery of the first phase of housing.

Phase 1a will see 802 units and a small high street built at Cairnhill, the first of seven neighbourhoods.

Final plans were submitted to Aberdeenshire Council at the end of September 2012. The Further Information Report (FIR) represented the last stage in the planning process.

For more information visit www.chapeltonofelsick.co.uk