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A time capsule giving those in the future a snapshot of life in Bridge of Don in 2018 has been buried to celebrate a brand new community ahead of its first residents moving in next month.

CALA Homes partnered with The Grandhome Trust and Braehead Primary School to fill the time capsule with photos, articles and plans illustrating the landmark Grandhome development.

Pupils from Braehead Primary created videos capturing why they like living in Bridge of Don. The seven videos are included on a USB stick within the time capsule.

A group of pupils from the school’s primary two class were also invited to watch the time capsule being buried. The group was invited after staff at CALA judged their video as the most creative.

Fraser Carr, Sales and Marketing Director at CALA Homes (North), said: “With Grandhome set to be a one-of-a-kind community, we wanted to mark the beginning of its creation by saving a little piece of history for future generations to find.

“We were very impressed by the videos the school’s pupils created. They provide a different perspective on Bridge of Don and it was fascinating to see what children in the area value most.

“The video produced by the primary two class included photos of pupils enjoying local parks and days at the beach. Each pupil also did a presentation looking at a different aspect of Bridge of Don such as their favourite shops, restaurants and kids clubs.”

Lesley Gardner, Acting Head Teacher at Braehead Primary School added: “All our pupils had great fun making videos for CALA’s time capsule and six of our primary two pupils were over the moon to have the chance to see it being buried.

“We are very proud that the videos are forming part of Grandhome’s legacy.”

Bruce Smith, Chairman of The Grandhome Trust, said: “After more than a decade of planning the Grandhome community, it’s very exciting to see CALA completing its very first homes. The time capsule is a great way to mark the occasion and will show the community’s future generations how Grandhome was originally created. It also celebrates the imminent arrival of Grandhome’s first residents who will shape the neighbourhood in its early years, and for many years to come.”

The first phase of CALA at Grandhome comprises 71 three and four bedroom properties including semi-detached and terraced homes, as well as spacious one and two bed apartments.

CALA’s development forms part of what is set to become a thriving substantial community featuring new schools, a health centre, parks, retail space and community buildings.

Major investment is underway in establishing the formal and informal green spaces at Grandhome, the new community for Aberdeen that will meet a significant proportion of the city’s new housing needs over the next 25 years.

More than £7 million of work is currently being carried out to deliver the first phase of supporting infrastructure for the community, which includes extensive landscaping and the creation of Grandhome’s first open spaces.

The delivery of the vision for Grandhome, set out in its masterplan, will set new standards in the region for place making in terms of its built environment, sense of identity, civic amenities and quality of life. This includes providing a higher than usual proportion of green and open space, which will ultimately comprise more than one quarter of the entire site.

As part of the first phase of development, entrance greens are being formed at the new access to Grandhome from Whitestripes Avenue, which include the planting of beech trees and hedging along with flowering cherry trees. These areas will provide a formal setting for the first neighbourhood, Laverock Braes.

Three hectares of parkland is being created to the west of where the first homes will be built, providing a green space for recreation and amenity that also incorporates the sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) basins.

More than 1,200 trees – including a range of native species such as beech, birch, hazel and willow – are being planted on the site along with extensive sowing of grasses and wild flowers to provide changing vistas throughout the seasons. Sculptural landforms and the use of different mowing in the parkland will create additional interest across the site.

The masterplan for the settlement provides a higher than usual proportion of open space at more than 62 hectares or 27% of the total site, which will accommodate formal recreational facilities and informal places for rest and relaxation, as well as natural, untamed areas that support biodiversity. Residents will have a wide range of different types of green space easily within reach that will provide a high level of amenity while supporting their physical and mental well being.

Grandhome will also connect with neighbouring communities through footpaths and cycle ways. The design of its open spaces will promote interaction between residents and neighbourhoods and the surrounding areas and landscape.

More than a decade of work by an international team of architects has gone into the development of Grandhome. The qualities of the existing landscape in and around the development site were a key influence on the masterplan. Worthwhile landscape features have been protected and the community’s design builds on the typical characteristics found locally to create a development with a strong sense of place, rooted in the particular context of urban and rural Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Landscape architecture consultancy Benton Scott-Simmons has advised the master plan team since the beginning of the project. Director Janet Benton said the work under way is a statement of intent for the role that green space will play in the community.

“We are pleased to be delivering a significant amount of new green space in the first phase of the community, including the formal greens that frame the entrance to the community and a large area of parkland to the west,” she said.

“These areas are just the beginning of a much wider network of green space that will connect neighbourhoods within the new development and link them to the existing communities nearby, as well as to the wider landscape.

“The work underway involves major earth shaping, and over the next six months more than 1,200 trees will be planted and grasses and wildflower mixes sown to establish both formal and more naturalistic elements that will frame the first homes and provide amenity for new and existing residents. By introducing a richer range of habitats in the landscape there will also be a net gain in terms of ecological and environmental benefits.”

Work on site for the first phase of supporting infrastructure for the new community of Grandhome resumed on 9 January, following the holidays.

A spokesman for civil engineering and utility contractor W M Donald said: “Works are progressing to programme to create the landscaping, core roads and utilities, including water, electricity, gas, telecoms and drainage, that will provide the framework for the first homes and neighbourhood. Bringing these services onto the site requires the installation of temporary traffic management measures in the area over the coming weeks. These are being promoted locally via signage and in the local media. Details are also provided online. The works are being scheduled to avoid peak travel to and from work times to minimise the inconvenience to local residents.”

Grandhome is a planned new community for Aberdeen which will set new standards in the region for place making in terms of its built environment, sense of place, civic amenities and quality of life.

A £7.2 million contract awarded last year involves W M Donald putting in place the first phase of infrastructure needed to support around 200 homes at Laverock Braes, the community’s first neighbourhood. This includes laying more than 800 metres of road, the installation of external street lighting and landscaping on the site. Underground infrastructure is also being installed to bring essential services onto the site, including drainage, water, gas, electricity and telecoms.

As part of the works, two new access junctions are being created onto the existing road network at Whitestripes Avenue, along with an off-site pedestrian crossing to promote pedestrian access to and from the community.

The infrastructure works are being supported by a £7.9 million loan from the Scottish Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Grandhome occupies a 320 hectare site located six kilometres north-west of Aberdeen city centre. With long-term potential for 7,000 homes, the community is being planned and developed by The Grandhome Trust, a family-led entity that has held the land for more than 300 years. The Trust has a vision to create a community of exemplary quality in terms of its built environment, sense of place, civic amenities and quality of life.

The community will be built according to a masterplan which has been designed over the past decade by an internationally recognised team of architects in consultation with the local community. The masterplan is complemented by a design code that will ensure the community meets consistent and high standards throughout its development phases.

Bruce Smith, trustee and spokesman for the Grandhome Trust, said: “The infrastructure works for Grandhome’s first neighbourhood, Laverock Braes, are progressing to programme as we move from more than a decade of planning to the delivery of our vision. The first phase of infrastructure works will ensure that the plots are ready for our housebuilding partners to move onsite later this year to develop the first new homes for what will be an exemplary new community for the north-east of Scotland.

“Grandhome is an important vote of confidence in the future of the city as a place in which to live, work and invest and will set new standards for quality while meeting a significant proportion of the city’s future housing needs,” said Mr Smith.

The creation of Grandhome will bring significant economic activity to the city with an investment of almost £1 billion in homes and infrastructure over the next 40 years.  It is forecast to support almost 600 construction jobs annually and the first five phases of development, equivalent to 4,700 homes of which 1,175 will be affordable homes, will accommodate around 11,500 residents with annual household expenditure totalling £110 million.

CALA Homes has submitted a planning application to Aberdeen City Council for the first phase of homes at Grandhome, including the creation of 70 luxury semi-detached and terraced homes, as well as apartments. 

Bruce Smith, trustee and spokesman for the Grandhome Trust, said: “We’re pleased to see Grandhome take another major step forward with CALA’s planning application for the first phase of houses. This is another exciting moment for us as we move from more than a decade of planning towards the delivery of the very first homes.  We are very pleased to be working with CALA as one of our housebuilding partners; they have embraced our enthusiasm for delivering an exemplary new community above and beyond the norm, and, if approved, we look forward to them moving on site and turning the plans into some of the community’s first homes.”

CALA Homes, part of the CALA Group, is the UK’s most upmarket major home builder operating in the South of England, the Midlands and Scotland. The company is a Top 10 UK home builder focused on building well-designed, high quality homes in prime locations. CALA started as the City of Aberdeen Land Association in 1875 and was the first Scottish company listed on the London Stock Market.

Work on the first phase of infrastructure that will support the creation of the new community of Grandhome is now underway with civil engineering and utility contractor W M Donald carrying out works on the site.

Grandhome is a planned new community for Aberdeen which will set new standards in the region for place making in terms of its built environment, sense of place, civic amenities and quality of life.

The £7.2 million contract will see W M Donald put in place the first phase of infrastructure needed to support around 200 homes at Laverock Braes, the community’s first neighbourhood. This includes laying more than 800 metres of road, the installation of external street lighting and landscaping on the site. Underground infrastructure will also be put in place to bring essential services onto the site, including drainage, water, gas, electricity and telecoms.

As part of the works, two new access junctions are being created onto the existing road network at Whitestripes Avenue, along with an off-site pedestrian crossing, while the footpath on the west side of the road will be widened, to promote pedestrian access to and from the community.

The infrastructure works are being supported by a £7.9 million loan from the Scottish Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Grandhome occupies a 320 hectare site located six kilometres north-west of Aberdeen city centre. With long-term potential for 7,000 homes, the community is being planned and developed by The Grandhome Trust, a family-led entity that has held the land for more than 300 years. The Trust has a vision to create a community of exemplary quality in terms of its built environment, sense of place, civic amenities and quality of life.

The community will be built according to a masterplan which has been designed over the past decade by an internationally recognised team of architects in consultation with the local community. The masterplan is complemented by a design code that will ensure the community meets consistent and high standards throughout.

The design of Grandhome’s streets has been influenced by the Scottish Government’s progressive policy document Designing Streets. This document promotes high quality street design and place-making oriented around safe streets for cyclists and pedestrians within a network of connected and walkable neighbourhoods. Grandhome is the first of Aberdeen’s large scale developments that will be delivered entirely in accordance with the principles set out in this guidance, which underpins the status of the new community as part of the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Scottish Community Initiative.

Bruce Smith, trustee and spokesman for the Grandhome Trust, said: “The beginning of the infrastructure works for Grandhome’s first neighbourhood, Laverock Braes, is a major milestone for the community as we move from more than a decade of planning to the delivery of our vision.

“The first phase of infrastructure works will ensure that the plots are prepared for housing developers to move onsite next year to develop the first new homes for what will be an exemplary new community for the north-east of Scotland.

“Grandhome is an important vote of confidence in the future of the city as a place in which to live, work and invest and will set new standards for quality while meeting a significant proportion of the city’s future housing needs,” said Mr Smith.

The creation of Grandhome will bring significant economic activity to the city with an investment of almost £1 billion in homes and infrastructure over the next 40 years.  It is forecast to support almost 600 construction jobs annually and the first five phases of development, equivalent to 4,700 homes of which 1,175 will be affordable homes, will accommodate around 11,500 residents with annual household expenditure totalling £110 million.

Contractors have begun to move on site to prepare the initial infrastructure works that will serve the very first phase of Grandhome.

These works will include underground services, landscaping and preparation of an access point to the new community’s first neighbourhood, Laverock Braes, which will be located on the southeastern portion of the site, and which will eventually go on to comprise around 600 homes as well as some retail and community buildings (https://grandhome.co.uk/first-neighbourhood/).

Infrastructure works will commence in earnest in autumn 2016.

More details to follow.

Delivery of the first phase of Grandhome has taken a further step forward this month following Aberdeen City Council’s approval of Planning and Road Construction Consent applications for infrastructure that will serve the new community’s first neighbourhood, Laverock Braes.

This initial element of work includes underground services, landscaping, a new access point to the site and Grandhome’s first streets which forthcoming residential and commercial development will plug into. The design and layout of Grandhome’s streets have been influenced by the Scottish Government’s progressive policy document Designing Streets. This document promotes high quality street design and place-making oriented around safe streets for cyclists and pedestrians within a network of connected and walkable neighbourhoods. Grandhome is the first of the Aberdeen City’s large scale developments that will be delivered entirely in accordance with the principles set out in this guidance and underpins the status of the new community as part of the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Scottish Community Initiative.

Chairman of the Grandhome Trust, Bruce Smith said, “This is a significant milestone for Grandhome and it is satisfying to see that our place-making principles have now been embodied in detailed plans and endorsed by the City. We are looking forward to seeing these plans realised this year as our first neighbourhood, Laverock Braes takes shape.”

Construction of the first phase of infrastructure is anticipated to start in Spring 2016 with further planning applications for residential development due to follow later in the year. An announcement in respect of the infrastructure contractor to be awarded the project is to be made imminently.

A planning application has been lodged for the infrastructure that will support the creation of the first neighbourhood within the new community of Grandhome on the north-west edge of Aberdeen.

The application to Aberdeen City Council seeks permission to construct the key roads, utilities, strategic drainage and landscaping that will provide the framework for the building of the first 650 homes, in a neighbourhood to be known as Laverock Braes.

Laverock Braes will be a mixed-use neighbourhood, containing shops and business space for local people as well as a public square and a multi-purpose community hall. Davidston Square is designed to be the focal point for the local community and will provide high quality public space to frame Davidston Hall, which has been designed by award-winning Edinburgh-based practice Reiach and Hall Architects.

The initial street plan conforms to the strategic masterplan for Grandhome forming the link between the wider Bridge of Don community and what will become the High Street for Grandhome.

The street plan is designed to prioritise walking throughout the community with connected streets, shared spaces and speed control measures for vehicles. In addition to linking the different neighbourhoods within Grandhome, the pedestrian footways and roads will connect with the wider Aberdeen Core Path network allowing the wider community to enjoy the seven hectares of open space and parkland that will be delivered in support of the first phase.

An application for Roads Construction Consent (RCC) for the initial streets that will form part of Laverock Braes has already been submitted to the Council for determination in conjunction the latest application. This includes a new access off Whitestripes Road with facilities for safe pedestrian crossing.

Subject to receiving the necessary consents from the Council, infrastructure works will get underway on site in August this year.

In March, The Grandhome Trust announced that three housebuilders – Bancon Homes, Cala Homes and Dandara – had been selected to deliver Laverock Braes, which will be built over the next four years. The homes for the first neighbourhood will be subject to a separate planning application later this year.

Bruce Smith, a Trustee of The Grandhome Trust, said: “The proposals for Laverock Braes are in accordance with the broader design objectives for Grandhome and underline our absolute commitment to maintaining quality from design through to delivery.

“In contrast to one size-fits-all developments where all the streets feel the same, Grandhome incorporates a different range of paths, lanes, minor streets, main streets and high streets that would normally only be found in a more traditional community that has evolved over time. This approach helps to create a stronger sense of place.

“It is this attention to detail from the outset, drawing on the collective experience of an award-winning design team, that will ensure that we meet our aim of creating a new community that sets new standards for urban development in Scotland and, as an outstanding environment in which to live and work, contributes to the long term prosperity of the city and surrounding region,” said Mr Smith.

Grandhome occupies a 320 hectare site located six kilometres north-west of Aberdeen city centre. With long-term potential for 7,000 homes, the community is being planned and developed by The Grandhome Trust, a family-led entity that has held the land for more than 400 years. The Trust has a vision to create a community of exemplary quality in terms of its built environment, sense of place, civic amenities and quality of life.

Grandhome was granted planning permission in principle by Aberdeen City Council in February 2015 for 4,700 homes, a new town centre, business district and community facilities including extensive public spaces. The new community will provide an environment of unique type and quality as well as helping to provide jobs, services and homes that will benefit the wider community and economy in Aberdeen and the surrounding region.

The creation of Grandhome will bring significant economic activity to the city with an investment of almost £1 billion in homes and infrastructure over the next 40 years.  It is forecast to support almost 600 construction jobs annually and the first five phases of development, equivalent to 4,700 homes of which 1,175 will be affordable homes, will accommodate around 11,500 residents with annual household expenditure totalling £110 million.

The Grandhome Trust is to hold a public exhibition presenting the latest plans for the first neighbourhood that will make up part of the new mixed-use community at Grandhome, Bridge of Don.

In spring 2014, Aberdeen City Council resolved to grant planning permission in principle for the new mixed-use community which will deliver 4,700 homes as well as a new town centre, business district and community facilities plus all the necessary landscaping and associated infrastructure. In 2015, we will be bringing forward planning applications for the first neighbourhood, including its supporting infrastructure.

An exhibition to share this work with the public will be held on the 10th and 11th February 2015 (3.30pm-7.30pm) at the Mains of Scotstown, Jesmond Square, Bridge of Don, AB22 8ET.

Members of the team will be on hand to answer any questions.

Copies of the exhibition boards can be downloaded here.

The Grandhome Trust has welcomed Aberdeen City Council’s decision to approve its plans to develop the new community of Grandhome on the north-west edge of Aberdeen.

On 28 May 2014, the Council’s Planning Development Management Committee approved the Trust’s planning permission in principle application for the first 4,700 homes and associated amenities and infrastructure, subject to the finalisation of the Section 75 agreement for the development.

The Trust will now progress with a detailed infrastructure application which will be submitted to the Council later this year with a view to house builders starting on site by the end of the 2014.

The creation of Grandhome, involving almost £1 billion of investment in homes and infrastructure by 2050, will have a significant economic impact in and around Aberdeen and will play an important part in meeting the city’s future housing needs.

Bruce Smith, trustee and spokesman for the Grandhome Trust, said: “This is an exciting step towards the creation of Grandhome as a new community. From the outset of the planning process we have sought to ensure that Grandhome will embody the very best characteristics of successful communities and set new standards for development in Scotland. Our vision is to provide an attractive and vibrant community in which to live and work, and which will contribute greatly to the long-term sustainability and success of Aberdeen.”

“Grandhome will be delivered in strategic phases over the next 25-plus years. We will continue to work with the City Council to ensure that our vision is realised throughout the subsequent stages of planning and during the actual creation of the first neighbourhoods and wider community in the years ahead.”

Grandhome is a strategic development within the Aberdeen Local Development Plan. The new community will be delivered in a series of phases over the next 25-35 years and will cater for a significant proportion of Aberdeen’s forecast growth over this period, whilst also providing a new town centre and amenities for existing Bridge of Don residents.

Almost £1 billion will be invested in the creation of Grandhome, providing a significant economic stimulus to the construction and homebuilding sectors in the North-east of Scotland. The construction of the first 4,700 homes will support almost 600 construction jobs per annum for around 15-20 years.

The 4,700 homes within the community will accommodate around 11,500 residents, 80% of whom will be of working age. Projected total annual household expenditure will be in the order of £110 million, around half of which will be spent directly in Aberdeen, supporting a further 625 full-time equivalent jobs per annum.

Over the past five years, The Grandhome Trust has engaged world-leading expertise and consulted extensively with local and national stakeholders with the aim of creating an exceptional community that sets new standards for development in Scotland, and which will be a significant asset for the city in the years ahead. Grandhome is an exemplar project within the Scottish Government’s Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative.

The planning permission in principle application approved by the Council follows its approval as supplementary guidance in May 2013 of the Grandhome Development Framework, which sets out the vision for the development of the new community and its design aspirations over the coming decades.

Designed to provide an excellent environment and quality of life, the vision for Grandhome responds to local architectural characteristics and stems from the principles of place-making which promote walkable neighbourhoods, offering a range of house types, as well as community facilities, shops and jobs. The Grandhome masterplan also features a substantial network of green spaces enhancing local biodiversity and connecting Grandhome to the Don Valley and wider area.