AVC PR Partnership

The site of the former Donside Paper Mill in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen is to be transformed into a new urban village, following the granting of planning consent by Aberdeen City Council’s planning committee today (April 24, 2008).

The approval of the planning application means that the 25-acre brownfield site of the former mill – which closed in 2001 – will be turned into 278 new homes, making it the largest affordable home development ever seen in North East Scotland.

The Donside Urban Village will be developed on behalf of four social housing providers – Tenants First Housing Co-operative, Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership, Grampian Housing Association and Langstane Housing Association – under the partnership umbrella of Devanha Ltd. The land for the development was purchased by Devanha with support from the Scottish Government’s Housing and Regeneration directorate.

Sandy Murray, Chief Executive of Tenants First, who is leading the Donside development on behalf of the Devanha partners, explains the significance of the Council’s approval of the village.

“The Donside Urban Village is the key to Devanha’s ambitions to develop new affordable homes in Aberdeen and it is an excellent example of local social housing providers working together with government at both national and local levels.

“The village is a flagship development for the Tillydrone area of the city and we believe it will be a catalyst for further regeneration within the local community. It will make a significant contribution to providing much needed high-quality, affordable homes in the city and it will create employment through the offices, shops and business units which will be built alongside the new houses.”

The Donside Urban Village will be a mixed tenure development providing affordable homes along with a number of properties for private purchase.

Combining flats with two, three and four-bedroom family homes and gardens, the Donside Urban Village has been designed by architects firm Halliday Fraser Munro, to reflect a traditional North-east townscape, with a grid of streets connecting the main village square, the various neighbourhoods and a number of courtyards and open spaces. To ensure that the village develops a real community identity, the plans also include some office space and business start up units, along with provision for neighbourhood shops.

The construction materials chosen for the development have been selected for their low energy usage and the homes will feature solar water heating along with particularly high levels of insulation. The developers are also considering a small scale hydro-electric plant on the old mill lade, which would produce around twice the electricity needed for the village.

Most of the existing mature trees on the site will be retained. A new riverside walkway, with an adjoining bistro, will connect with the existing paths around Seaton Park and link with the national cycle network. Devanha has also submitted a separate planning application for a hotel to the west of the village, which would follow the curve of the riverbank.

The streets within Donside Urban Village will be designated as ‘homezones’. Pioneered in the Netherlands, ‘homezones’ are designed to encourage residents to take time to stop and speak with their neighbours. Cars are allowed, but the design makes drivers feel they are guests in an environment designed for people.

To encourage families to settle and make the Donside Urban Village their long-term home, the houses have been designed to be adaptable to meet the changing needs of families and individuals. Rooms will be capable of use as bedrooms, living rooms, or home offices and the homes can be modified or extended at a later date.

April, 24, 2008

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For further information:

Mark Guest
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
Mobile 07770 852105
mark@prpartnership.co.uk

Sandy Murray, Chief Executive
Tenants First
Tel 01224 628400
Mobile 07875 374116
smurray@tenantsfirst.com

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF DEVANHA LTD BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

The Academy shopping Centre in Aberdeen is re-launching its popular model competition in the hunt for fresh faces from across the city.

The competition, which launches today this week, is seeking models for The Academy’s next advertising campaign.

Now in its second year, the competition is designed to show the real people who shop in The Academy and so is split into several categories, including; young family (mum, dad and child/children), Business men/women and female and male shoppers of any age.

John Macfarlane, Manager of The Academy Shopping Centre comments: “The model competition is one of the main events in The Academy’s calendar. It allows us to give something back to all our regular customers with the opportunity to take part in a real photo shoot and TV ad campaign.

“The exposure our models receive throughout The Academy is great for those looking to make modelling a career. We were delighted to hear that last year’s winners, Rachel Shepherd and Ross Whyte will soon be shooting a fashion feature for Trend Magazine.”

The winners from each category in this year’s competition will receive shopping vouchers for The Academy and will feature on The Academy’s branding and ad campaigns both in the Centre and across a number of platforms including; press, magazine and on the city’s buses.

For the chance to be The Academy’s next top model, entrants are asked to post a photograph of themselves in the drop box located in The Academy, with their name and contact details. The competition is open to entrants over the age of 18 excluding the family category.

Having recently signed up surf wear store, Bite, The Academy now has 9 stores and 5 bar restaurants in its expanding portfolio.

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Notes to Editors

Pictures: Rachel Shepherd, winner of the 2007 Academy model competition. Download Hi-Res
The Academy Shopping Centre opened in 1998. It is owned by Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited and managed by Aberdeen – based Apardion. It contains 9 shopping units and 5 bar/restaurants.

Issued on behalf of The Academy by PR Partnership/AVC Media Enterprises. For more information please contact Lynsey Shepherd on 01224 248007, or email lshepherd@avcmedia.com.