Chapelton, Aberdeenshire

Chapelton of Elsick is a 810 hectares (2,000 acres) new town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 16 kilometres (9.9 miles) south of Aberdeen. It is situated close to the A92 and Newtonhill. The town plan was led by the Elsick Development Company (EDC).[1]

Hume Square, Chapelton (August 2016)
Chapelton of Elsick
Chapelton of Elsick
Location within Aberdeenshire
Population60 
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSTONEHAVEN
Postcode districtAB39
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish

Neighbourhoods

The initial masterplan proposes the development of over four thousand houses, along with shops, offices, parks and schools. These houses will be located in four neighbourhoods. A town centre, including a main high street for Chapelton, will follow in a subsequent phase. Longer-term, the Chapelton site can accommodate up to 8,000 houses within seven neighbourhoods.

The network of streets and parks will follow the features of the site's landscape, incorporating the contours of the land and existing trees and woodlands. The street network will maximise views, including the sea views from the neighbourhood of Cairnhill. Most of the site sits within a large bowl, so it will remain largely unseen by the existing settlements in the area.

The town masterplan was developed in consultation with over 5,000 local residents, as well as local professionals, Council officers and Scottish national agencies. Feedback received during this consultation process has shaped critical elements of the town, as well as the architectural plans.[2]

Cairnhill

The first neighbourhood to be completed, Cairnhill, is situated on a 270-acre site near Newtonhill. The high street links two key community landmarks: a primary school to the west and a community building and park to the east. The first part of the neighbourhood will be Hume Square and the 233 houses surrounding it. Hume Square will be Chapelton's first public green, lined with traditional terraced houses and the town's first businesses.[3]

Houses

House styles in Chapelton vary from small apartments to five bedroom family homes.[4] The architecture of the houses' exteriors have slate roof tiles and lime harl. Architectural details and materials in the first phase include slate roofs, timber windows (sash and case to public elevations), dormer windows, timber linings to some extensions and garages, corrugated metal roofing, and some properties have working chimneys for wood-burning stoves.

A design code for the area has been developed to ensure that the architecture and integrity of the original design cannot be altered or diminished.

Services

The Chapelton Community Interest Company has been set up to manage many aspects of the new town, particularly those beyond the remit of Aberdeenshire Council. Community events are organised, commercial facilities and green spaces are managed. Directly accountable to residents, the CCIC also has the remit to regulate future development within the community to ensure that purchasers can be sure of the design that they buy into.

Schools

Chapelton has a nursery.[5] Walters & Cohen, a specialist schools architect, is working with EDC on schooling provision. Sites for three primary schools and one secondary school have been identified for the first four neighbourhoods. These schools will be located adjacent to commercial areas.

Options for immediate secondary education in Chapelton are still being developed in conjunction with Aberdeenshire Council's Education Department.

Health

A medical practice has not yet been identified for Cairnhill. However, discussions are underway with Portlethen Medical Centre to explore the viability of a satellite practice in the early years.[6]

EDC continues to work with NHS Grampian and others to develop the details of this strategy as it moves forward to implementation.

Transport
Greenlaw Road, Chapelton (August 2016)

The town is situated close to the A92. A central bus stop is served by an hourly bus to Aberdeen with a journey time of one hour.[7] Alternatively, Chapelton's Park and Choose is located at the A92 0.5 miles from the eastern edge of the town. It is served by an hourly express bus service between Aberdeen and Perth. Residents can take advantage of a free Dial-a-Ride service to meet buses.

The town does not have a railway station. The nearest, Portlethen, is 3.5 miles away.

Green Spaces

A variety of parks have been designed throughout the development and several are already built ranging from the more formal Hume Square, already home to the Bike Ride and other events and boasting cherry trees underplanted with bulbs. The newly created Liddell Park includes the Hut which will become the community building and the first children's play area. Larger and more informal green parks are situated towards the edge.

At the entrance to the town is a large country park and the community woodland, planted by new residents, forms a growing backdrop. The Chapelton Trail, designed on tracks and along the Causeymounth and Elsick House drives, is on offer to those who like countryside walks.

Public Amenities

Chapelton is served by a tearoom and Visitor Centre, a beauty and hair salon and a nursery school.

As the town grows, community halls, parks and sports pitches will feature in each neighbourhood, while major facilities such as indoor sports gymnasiums and a library will most likely be located within the Community Campus of the secondary school.

A row of terraced houses in Cairnhill, Chapelton (Jan 2015)

See also

References
  1. "Chapelton - A vibrant new community five miles south of Aberdeen with homes available now". Chapelton. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. http://chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/vision/masterplan/
  3. http://chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/vision/neighbourhoods/
  4. http://chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/homes/
  5. Haslam, Dale (13 February 2019). "North-east nursery praised for nurturing confident, happy kids". Evening Express. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  6. http://chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/services/health/
  7. "7B timetable" (PDF). Stagecoach. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
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