Blackdog Mixed Use Development, Aberdeenshire

THE CHALLENGE

Blackdog is a small settlement located on the boundary between Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council. With its proximity to Aberdeen, Blackdog was recognised in Aberdeenshire Council’s Local Development Plan (2012), as an appropriate area for housing and employment opportunities, particularly given its roles in both the Aberdeen to Peterhead Strategic Growth Area and Energetica initiative.

Ashfield Land and Kirkwood Homes brought forward proposals to develop the Masterplan approved by Aberdeenshire Council in 2013, by creating a new community and town centre that will compliment other key projects along the A90 corridor. The Blackdog town centre will be uniquely designed to accommodate facilities to meet the needs of the existing Blackdog and surrounding settlements, by providing an economic centre that will incorporate a number of land uses.

The development includes 11,500sqm of retail, 2,000sqm of food and drink uses, an 850 seat / 6 screen cinema, a 150 bed hotel, approximately 37,000sqm of employment, 550 residential units, a petrol filling station and supporting access and parking infrastructure.

SYSTRA’S ROLE

SYSTRA were commissioned to contribute to the development of the masterplan and prepare the Transport Assessment (TA) in support of their development proposals at Blackdog. The development will generate a significant level of people trips, and the primary focus of the TA was to apply sustainable development principles to maximise the accessibility of the development and reduce car use.

Access to the Blackdog development will be taken from the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) / A90 grade separated junction. A critical aspect of SYSTRA’s role was assessing and identifying a series of infrastructure measures that would be required at this junction to accommodate the volume of traffic that would be generated by the new Blackdog development. This included traffic signal control and the upgrade of the Blackdog access arm to a dual carriageway.

SYSTRA worked closely with the multi-disciplined design team to develop the Masterplan and associated comprehensive and integrated transport strategy that achieved planning approval. The TA was prepared in consultation with key stakeholders including Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council and Transport Scotland.