Inverurie could double in size in 20 years

A draft report which will help shape the development of Inverurie & Kintore was presented at an Inverurie Business Association meeting in March.  Local business representatives heard from Aberdeenshire Council and one of the “Imagine Inverurie and Kintore” capacity study co-authors from Nicoll Russell Studios about how the towns may be set to evolve until 2027.  

The report examines the possibility of doubling housing stock in Inverurie from a current figure of 5,105 to a projected 10,210 in 2027.  Plans for Kintore recommend an increase from 1,302 to 2,604 over the same period.  It is estimated that around 165 hectares of land will be needed for houses in Inverurie, with a further 42 hectares required to meet the expansion of Kintore.  

It is also estimated by the report’s authors that, by 2027, Inverurie will be similar in size to the current size of Arbroath and Kintore will be similar in size to the current size of Portlethen.  

A full report of the meeting & an assessment of the capacity study by IBA member, Inverurie architect Willie Lippe is carried in the next issue of the IBA magazine Connect (available from April 5).  

Please request a pdf copy of the presentation made to the IBA by clicking on this e-mail link:    This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

The full report is available on the Aberdeenshire Council Website.  The deadline for comments on the capacity study is April 11.  Comments should be sent to Daniel Harrington, Aberdeenshire Council, Woodhill House, Ashgrove Road West, Aberdeen.

Keep Tourist Centre open all year

Dozens of Inverurie businesses have written to the Inverurie Business Association expressing concern at the seasonal closure of the town’s Tourist Information Centre on High Street.  The local business comments support Gordon MSP and Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond who has called Visit Scotland to task for closing the Inverurie centre without consultation and without discussing possible alternatives.

Both the Gordon MSP and MP Malcolm Bruce have criticised the action by Visit Scotland.   Mr Salmond has called for an urgent meeting with Visit Scotland.  “Inverurie Business Association, with support from Aberdeenshire Council, has put a large amount of resource into developing tourism services for Inverurie and the absence of a full-time Tourist Information Centre will be a huge blow,” said Ranald Allan, a member of the IBA committee.  “The IBA launched the Visit Inverurie internet site which has recorded more than 176,000 visitors and the association has produced tourism leaflets to promote the town,” explained Ranald.