The first homes in a retirement village of 94 units – 50% flats and 50% houses – are likely to be ready in May. It is centred on a main building with centralised facilities and a range of care options.
Aberdeenshire Council is in negotiations with Places For People to build 25 affordable units. These will be offered on shared equity or mid-market rent bases. It is hoped that these will be completed by spring 2019.
There will be an area of commercial development on the north corner of Liddell Park to include seven units of differing sizes, with flats above. They will be suitable for people looking to start or bring their business to Chapelton, providing facilities for residents.
Also on the cards is a temporary retail and leisure area of affordable commercial units in fully-serviced container units initially situated to the south of Liddell Park.
The laying out of the first of the allotment parks, down by Nether Cairnhill farm, has started. This should be completed in the spring if there is sufficient interest from Chapelton residents in having a plot.
There have been some misunderstanding regarding the provision of a travellers’ site in Chapelton. The obligation is set out in what’s called a Section 75 Agreement, part of the planning process. This requires the developers to provide a site within Chapelton, failing which an alternative site outwith the development, failing which a commuted sum of £100,000 to be used for development of a site. The requirement is only after 1745 houses have been built and so it will be many years away at the current rate of development. Aberdeenshire Council’s preference is for a site at Chapelton rather than elsewhere or the sum of £100,000.