Agenda item

With reference to article 13 of the minute of the meeting of Council of 19 May, 2010, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which presented the draft City Centre Development Framework for approval for public consultation as Supplementary Guidance to the new forthcoming Aberdeen Local Development Plan.

By way of background, the report advised that the draft City Centre Development Framework was informed by a number of national, regional and local documents, including the Scottish Government’s Designing Places – A Policy Statement for Scotland. This stated that successful places had a distinct identity; were safe, pleasant and easy to move around; and welcoming to visitors, and as such these themes underpinned the draft Development Framework.

The Development Framework sought to:- complement and enhance Aberdeen’s unique identity; develop clearly defined character areas; ensure future development understands the existing context; complement the wealth of existing urban design qualities; celebrate the quality of architecture present in the city centre; and ensure a co-ordinated and integrated approach to the future development of the city centre.

In doing that, the Framework was consistent with the guiding principles of the Council’s Masterplanning Process adopted in November, 2008. These concentrated on understanding the key themes of context, identity and connection. An explanation of each of the key themes was provided. It was advised that based on an analysis of these factors, the draft Development Framework was founded on the following five key objectives:-

1.      The principal focus of the Framework was Union Street; as the most important and identifiable street in the city it should be promoted as the commercial, vibrant heart of the city centre;

2.      Character areas and urban quarters were developed to capitalise on the distinctive merits of their surroundings and reinforce Aberdeen’s unique identity;

3.      Legible transport hubs were introduced to the central area with car parks on the approaches to ensure an efficient and understandable relationship between character areas, Union Street and public access to facilities in the city centre;

4.      Street surfaces were of a high quality at first points of contact with the city centre (public transport hubs, rail station, car parks and around important public and historic buildings;

5.      A range of vibrant connected squares were developed to ensure the best use of space to enhance city life.

The Framework proposed that the unique identity of the city centre be enhanced and reinforced through the clear definition of a number of urban quarters and character areas. Each of these had a distinct character and purpose and the Framework explored their context, identity and connection, along with a number of key issues and opportunities that must be considered when developing these Quarters.  The key characteristics of each area were summarised.

Finally, in terms of consultation, it was advised that as part of the series of consultation events about the Main Issues Report 54 sources of comment on the City Centre and retailing topic had been received. Comments recognised the importance of the City Centre and the need for a plan-led response, and there was support to for a City Centre Development Framework and/or masterplan to guide development, with an emphasis on taking a joined up approach which looked at the City Centre as a whole.

As the draft Development Framework was expected to form supplementary guidance to the forthcoming Aberdeen Local Development Plan, it was proposed that public consultation relating to the Framework be carried out as part of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan – Proposed Plan consultation programme in the final quarter of 2010 as agreed by Council on 18 August 2010.  This would be supplemented by contacting key stakeholder and community groups.  Feedback from the public consultation will be evaluated and incorporated in the final Development Framework which will be reported to Committee in due course.

Councillor Hunter raised concerns regarding the current walking surface at the Castlegate Quarter and requested that walking surfaces be included within the Framework as part of the consultation.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the final draft City Centre Development Framework Supplementary Guidance for public consultation as part of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan Proposed Plan consultation, the results of which to be reported back to Committee in due course; and

(ii)        to request officers to include and consider Councillor Hunter’s comments regarding the Castlegate Quarter as part of the consultation.