National Outcome 12

NO12 - We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and enhance it for future generations

Progress has been made to improve Aberdeen’s built and natural environment. Over the past 12 months. More houses have been built on the Brownfield sites in order to protect our natural environment.  The total number of completions for the financial year 2008/2009 was 271 units, all of which were on Brownfield sites. The previous Local Plan was adopted in 1991 and its Greenfield allocations dried up several years ago, forcing developers to look at Brownfield sites. The current Local Plan was only adopted in June 2008. Its adoption allowed developers to submit proposals for development on certain Greenfield sites. Such proposals have been working their way through the planning process since its adoption. Given the credit crunch, construction on sites with permission for development has been slow to commence. It will therefore be the next and subsequent financial years that see the benefits of the Local Plan's release of Greenfield sites. The very low proportion (zero) of housing on Greenfield sites shows the similar situation.

The newly approved Structure Plan has a target of 40% of all new housing in the city to be on Brownfield Sites.

Progress has been made to meet the targets in order to improve Aberdeen’s built and natural environment.  In 2007, the Council carried out an open space audit of 237 sites owned and managed by the Council. The audit has been further extended to cover all the City’s open space. The Audit is being carried out following the Scottish Government Planning Policy SPP11 open space and physical activity.   The audit covers all types of open spaces within the city greater than 0.2 hectares that were not covered by the 2007 audit. A green space quality criterion was set up following greenspace Scotland guidelines. All the open spaces around settlements with 500 metre buffer has been mapped using geographic information system indicating each category of open space within the city. To add community value to the open spaces within the city communities are being engaged. Further to value our natural environment North East Scotland Biological Recording Centre (NESBReC) is being engaged to add biodiversity value to the open spaces within the City. The audit will provide baseline information on quantity and quality of Open Spaces, which is being used to develop City Council’s new Local Development Plan. The information from the audit will be used to prepare an open space strategy for the City. The strategy will set a vision for new and improved open spaces appropriate to local circumstances.

Aberdeen City Council’s Nature Conservation Strategy is being updated which further protects, enhances and promotes biodiversity within the City. The strategy covers all the species and habitats including grass verges.   At the same time, Aberdeen City Council is undertaking a review of sites of local and regional importance for biodiversity and geodiversity in association with Scottish Natural Heritage and Aberdeenshire Council. This is in line with new guidance on the selection of Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) across Scotland.  The City has 17 sites and about a third have now been reviewed.  The review of more sites is planned for this second year. 

Sites of local and regional importance make a considerable contribution to the biodiversity resource. They also contribute to the quality of the local environment and may provide opportunities for people to find out about biodiversity or geodiversity. The data gathered will provide an updated picture of the state of our sites and identify areas that require mitigation.  The data will help to further protect the sites plus help to inform new policies including the new Local Development Plan. Protecting and enhancing these sites make an important contribution to the objective of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and meeting our commitments under the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Each local biodiversity site will contribute to the quality of the local environment, and will provide opportunities for locals to find out about, and take pride in, their local biodiversity.

LO12A Aberdeen’s natural and built environment is protected and the City play’s its part in protecting our planet

Measure

Performance

Note

% of new housing on brownfield sites.

The very high proportion of housing on brownfield sites reflects the difficulties in releasing greenfield sites in advance of an adopted Local Plan. The figure for 2008 will be available later in 2009 but it is likely to be very close to 100%

The Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan which has recently been approved by Ministers envisages a level of growth which will require some 58% of new houses to be built on Greenfield sites up to 2030 ie 42% on brownfield sites.

Measure

Performance

Note

% of housing on greenfields

The very low proportion of housing on greenfield sites reflects the difficulties in releasing greenfield sites in advance of an adopted Local Plan. The figure for 2008 will be available in September 2009 but it is likely to be very close to 0%.

The Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan which has recently been approved by Ministers envisages a level of growth which will require some 58% of new houses to be built on greenfield sites up to 2030 ie 42% on brownfield sites.

Measure

Performance

Note

% increase of biodiversity in verges.

Unfortunately this data is unavailable. Aberdeen City Council has commissioned a Greenspace audit which will have this information for the 2009/10 Single Outcome Agreement.

Measure

Performance

Note

The mean Greenspace Scotland quality score for Aberdeen

Greenspace Scotland Quality guide advises that Greenspace Quality Audits should be reviewed over the long term (e.g. 5 years). Aberdeen City's quality score will be updated for 2008/09 from the Greenspace Audit currently ongoing and will be available for reporting for the 2009/10 Single Outcome Agreement.

LO12B Aberdeen’s unique granite heritage is protected and promoted

Measure

Performance

Note

Number of listed buildings at risk

The Green Townscape Heritage Initiative is working with private owners to secure the restoration of the buildings.

Of the 10 currently at risk, the Green Townscape Heritage Initiative considers repairing and restoring Victoria Buildings, 32 – 48 Bridge Street to be a priority and the Ferryhill Motive Power Depot has now been leased to the Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society. Our expectation is that these 2 buildings will come off the list in the near future. The Green Townscape Heritage Initiative is working with private owners to secure the restoration of the buildings.

Of the remaining 8, Westburn House, which is owned by the Council, is of particular concern.