Aberdeen’s status as Scotland’s third city will be under threat unless plans to build 36,000 new homes come to fruition, a senior councillor warned last night.

Publication of more than 120 bids from developers for housing and business schemes on key city land sites have received a mixed response from communities across Aberdeen.

Fears have been expressed that ambitious targets to build 36,000 new homes in the city over the next 20 years could “completely change” the character of existing communities.

Aberdeen City Council’s deputy leader Kevin Stewart said the targets were essential to stop Aberdeen’s population falling below Dundee’s.

“The development plan offers great opportunities to the city of Aberdeen,” he said.

“If we do not address the depopulation situation then we will end up on a par with Dundee.

“Such a drop in population would also lead to a massive drop in government grant.

“The council has to ensure that we maximise the amount of planning gain from developers to ensure that the new infrastructure required to support new communities is there.

“This plan is essential to the economic wellbeing of the city and Aberdeenshire.”

Aberdeen’s population fell from 217,300 to 209,300 between 1997 and 2007. Dundee’s population in 2007 was 142,150.

Aberdeen City Council published the list of bids for developments to be put forward for inclusion in the city’s next local development plan as part of reforms aimed at streamlining the planning system and improving community consultation.

A total of 52 of the bids are for land sites in the Lower Deeside area, including more than 4,200 homes.

Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber Community Council chairman Peter Reiss said the 36,000 new-homes target set in the region’s structure plan was “grossly exaggerated”.

He added: “I think it’s going to completely change the whole character of the area.

“I find the whole thing extremely frustrating.”

In Kingswells and Sheddocksley, 13 bids have been lodged for different sites, including more than 1,600 new homes, a business park, offices, a hotel and a supermarket.

Kingswells Community Council chairwoman Barrie Buchan said: “This is a developers’ wish-list and we’ve got to now put our side of the story forward and I think we’ve got to keep that in mind.

“The worst scenario of development is what we see in this map.

“Kingswells is a very nice place in the city and we would like to keep it that way.”

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By Calum Ross

Published: 07/05/2009