Aberdeen City and Shire - Strategic Development Planning Authority

Structure Plan

Under current legislation, structure plans are prepared for all parts of Scotland and are the strategic part of the development plan. They provide a long-term vision for the future development needs of an area and enable the co-ordination of investment by public and private sectors.

SPP1 indicates that structure plans must go beyond the expression of general criteria and indicate the proposed long-term nature, scale and location of change. Brevity, clarity and precision are key requirements for structure plans.

Although structure plans are prepared by local authorities (jointly in the case of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils), approval of the plan at the end of its preparation process rests with Scottish Ministers.

The current structure plan was approved by Scottish Ministers in December 2001 and looks forward to 2016. In addition to chapters on the vision and strategy of the plan, it contains chapters on working in the North East; living in the North Least; looking after the North East and moving about the North East.

Structure Plan

Approval

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Structure Plan 2001 – 2016 (North East Scotland Together)

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Structure Plan 2001 - 2016 (North East Scotland Together)

21 December 2001

Under the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, structure plans will be replaced by strategic development plans in the four largest city-regions. It is expected that regulations governing the preparation of strategic development plans will be published in early 2009.

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils started work on a new structure plan on 23 February 2007. More information can be found under 'Current Work'. The SDPA are taking forward work on the new structure plan before starting work on a strategic development plan.