Public to have say in rethink

The public are being asked for their say on proposed changes to how Aberdeenshire Council calculates developer contributions.

Last year, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils were dealt a major blow when the Elsick Development Company successfully challenged an £8million bill.

The Duke of Fife’s company had been asked to hand over the cash for the north-east’s strategic transport fund as part of its planning consent for the Chapelton of Elsick – but Court of Session judges reduced the bill to just £287,000.

An appeal on the matter is ongoing.

But in the meantime, the council is carrying out an eight-week consultation on the local development plan’s supplementary guidance on developer obligations.

It has acknowledged that “unforeseen costs” can affect a project’s viability and may “take this into account” but it would be dependent on developers undertaking a “full development appraisal” at the outset.

Developer’s obligations would be calculated using a standard household unit equivalent (SHUE) of up-front payments for education, waste, recycling, community halls, sports, recreation and healthcare based on the number and size of new homes in the planned development.

Other obligations to transport would be assessed in terms of their impact on the local transport network.

To take part in the consultation, visit http://bit.ly/LDPSGdc

Lord Southesk