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AberlourHierarchy Status/Objectives/IssuesAberlour is a third tier settlement and animportant centre for Speyside

l The town has been identified for growthgiven its strategic role locally (secondaryschool; employment; trunk road).

l Topography and linear form of thesettlement restrict options fordevelopment land.

l Shortage of land for employmentpurposes.

InfrastructureWater and DrainageDevelopers are advised to contact ScottishWater as early as possible in order to confirmthat there is sufficient drainage capacity andwater supply available to accommodateproposals. Scottish Water has advised thatthey will work with developers to ensure thatnew development can be accommodated.

RoadsA number of potential roads improvementshave been identified for each settlement.The most significant of these are shown onthe settlement map as TSP and the full extentis shown in the pages following the map.Comments on road access arrangements areprovided in site designation texts.  These areintended to be of assistance to developersand advise generally of improvements thatare likely to be needed to service the site,along with the need for any off-siteimprovements.  These requirements are notexhaustive, and do not pre-empt anythingthat might result through the TransportAssessment process.  It is essential thatdevelopers contact Transportation at an earlystage, especially where there is a requirementfor a Transport Assessment identified in thesite text. 

Developer ContributionsContributions may be sought towards somepublic facilities (eg core paths; library;schools; sports/leisure facilities;transportation) and this will be confirmed atapplication stage. Developments over 4houses will be required to make an affordablehousing contribution.

Layout and DesignHigh quality design and layouts in newdevelopment is an important aspect for“placemaking”, in order to achieve anattractive and interesting living environment .This is a priority objective of the ScottishGovernment (see Primary Policy 3).

Pre-application discussions and communityconsultation are only requirements for MajorApplications (50 or more houses; or on sitesexceeding 2 hectares). The Council wouldencourage early discussion pre-applicationon ALL proposals, and is willing to engagewith developers to identify any aspects of sitedevelopment that should be taken intoconsideration from the outset.

Some sites being proposed for developmenthave had some “key design principles”identified for them, highlighting the keydesign elements that should be observedwhen layouts are being drafted.

Housing

R1 Chivas Field 1.6 ha 30 houses This site extends to 1.6 ha and has a capacityfor 30 houses. This has been increased from20 in the previous plan. Access to this site willbe via Mary Avenue/Allachy Terrace and willinclude the removal of the vacant house (34Allachy Terrace). The stone built house closestto the A95 must be refurbished and retainedas part of the development.

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Development proposals must safeguard thetrees to the west of the site and provide alandscaping scheme for the sloping area onthe southern side. A woodland planting stripmust be provided along the Aberlour Burn toprotect and enhance the River Spey SAC. Theaccess route to Lynne Falls must also beretained as part of this.

The designation is in close proximity to ahazardous installation Chivas BrothersLimited, Aberlour Distillery. Due to theproximity to the distillery a noise impactassessment will be required. A Flood RiskAssessment will also be required.

R2: Braes of Allachie4.2 ha 40 housesThe site extends to 4.2 ha and Phase 1 has acapacity for 40 houses. A detaileddevelopment brief will be prepared for thissite and the LONG designation.

A Transport Assessment must be provided, toidentify any proposed or required works tothe junction of Queens Road and the A95.The release of this site for housing requiresthe upgrading of Allachie Drive to a 5.5 metrewide carriageway with a 2m footway on thesouth side and a 1.5m-2m verge on the northside. The junction of Allachie Drive andChapel Terrace is very poor and requiresvisibility splays of 4.5 m by 70 metres. TheHatton Road junction requires to berepositioned to a point approximately 30 m tothe northeast. Proposals should also includean active travel/safe route to the SpeysideHigh School.

A landscaping scheme must be provided forsite R2 and the LONG site. The scheme mustprovide planting on the ridge to the southwest of the LONG site, to reinforcecontainment of the site, this offers theopportunity to introduce native tree planting.

The Tree Preservation Order that exists on thenorth west boundary of the R2 designationmust also be taken into account.

The proposals must fully considerconnectivity to and the relationship with theLONG site, as well as drainage, roads andaffordable housing elements. The site is inclose proximity to the River Spey SAC andmust provide information to confirmadequate protection measures areimplemented to protect the waterenvironment, including a buffer to thewatercourse.

R3: Tombain 2 ha 12 housesThis site extends to 2 ha and has planningpermission for 12 houses. Access must comefrom Sellar Place. The eastern boundary tothe site must ensure that a 4.5 metre verge ismaintained for future widening of RuthrieRoad. An emergency access must also beprovided from Ruthrie Road to the site.Improvements to off-site footways onDowans Road along with an additionalremote pedestrian connection to DowansRoad are required. The existing stand of treesmust be retained. A new wastewaterconnection to the sewer in the main road willbe required.

R4: Speyview13.1 ha 100 housesThis large new site is expected to serveAberlour well beyond the duration of theLocal Development Plan period. It is beingconsidered due to the constraints indeveloping the sites at Braes of Allachie.  Thesite can accommodate a phaseddevelopment of up to 100 houses. Dependingon demand there may also be theopportunity for modest release ofemployment land.

A detailed development brief will beprepared for the site reflecting the designprinciples set out in the accompanying plan.This site is on the edge of Aberlour andrelatively prominent, as such it will requiresignificant structural landscape planting toprovide a backdrop and containment for newdevelopment.  The topography of the siteshould be used to integrate developmentsensitively.   The layout of the developmentshould optimise the extent of green areas toabsorb rainwater to help address surfacewater run-off.

There may be a requirement to prepare aFlood Risk Assessment relating to the openditch that passes through the site, the ditchshould be incorporated into the design of thesite.  Surface water flooding is an issue inAberlour and the design, layout and use ofSUDS should be carefully considered toensure that water quality in the River SpeySAC is unaffected.  

A badger survey may be required.  There ispotential for buried archaeological remainsand an archaeological evaluation of 7-10% isrequired.

A Transport Assessment will be required forthe overall development of the site. Primaryaccess to the site should be onto the A95trunk road. The details of the A95 accessjunction will need to be agreed withTransport Scotland and The Moray Council.Speed limits on the A95 may require to berelocated. For any development exceeding100 residential units, a second vehicularaccess to the development from the existingpublic road network will be required. Prior tothe commencement of the 50th house orequivalent traffic impact from a combinedhousing and employment development anemergency access will be required at alocation to be agreed (potentially onto theU103H Ruthrie Road).

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Footways along the frontage of the site ontothe A95 will be required and additional worksmay be required for existing footways andcrossings on the A95 to provide a safer routefor pedestrians and for routes to school.

LONG

Braes of Allachie (Phase 2)5.23 ha 50 housesThis site is continued as a LONG site in theplan and is suitable for housing as acontinuation of the existing Braes of Allachiedevelopment. The site is 5.23 ha and has acapacity for 50 houses. The development ofthe site should be implemented in line withthe requirements for R2. The development ofthe site should have no adverse impact onthe nearby flood prevention scheme, on thisbasis there may be a requirement for furtherflood studies to support any proposal.

The release of the LONG designation issubject to the works required to resolve allaccess to R2 being completed, and evidencethat any additional infrastructurerequirements for the LONG designation canbe achieved by the developer and will be thesubject of a development brief.

Opportunity SitesOPP1 Mary Avenue (0.54Ha)

This site to the east of Ogg’s vehicle storagearea has development potential for a range ofbusiness and residential uses. Proposals mustincorporate the upgrading of the access roadto Council standards. Wastewater and surfacewater sewers are available.

IndustrialExisting Industrial Sites

I1 Aberlour

The existing industrial estate whichaccommodates McPherson’s transport depotand Walker’s Shortbread Factory is at capacityand cannot be reasonably expanded. Adetailed Flood Risk Assessment will berequired for any planning application that issubmitted for this site.

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I2 Aberlour/Glenlivet Distillery AreaReserved for the use of the distillery andrelated business uses. A detailed constructionmethod statement should be submitted withany development proposals, in order toensure that development does not impact onthe River Spey SAC

I3 Mary Avenue

No additional capacity for development.

I4 Fisherton

New developments must respect the site’ssensitive location at the entrance to Aberlourand may be required to screen or landscapethe frontage to the main road. A detailedconstruction method statement should besubmitted with any development proposalsin order to ensure that the development doesnot impact on the River Spey SAC. Detailedflood risk assessment will be required for anyplanning application that is submitted for thesite.

Transportation Improvements (TSP)

A number of potential road improvementshave been identified in association with thedevelopment of sites. In addition to individualsite requirements, these take account of thecumulative impact on the road network. Themost significant of these are shown as TSP onthe settlement plan. Details of these, alongwith a list of all potential improvements, andother transportation related sites to besafeguarded, are contained in the attachedTSP schedule.

Environment

The following sites are identified as openspaces which contribute to the environmentand amenity of Aberlour. The over-ridingpolicy E5 – Open Spaces applies to each ofthese sites.

ENV1 Public Parks and GardensAlice Littler Park

ENV2 Private Gardens or GroundsWest Lynne

ENV3 Amenity GreenspaceField at St. Margaret’s church, MaryAvenue

ENV5 Sports AreasSpeyside High School, CharlestownBridge

ENV6 Green Corridors/Natural/Semi Natural GreenspacesLinn Braes; Mary Avenue; DowansHotel; Braes of Allachie/ School; MaryAvenue; Braes of Allachie; Woodlands;Braes of Allachie TPO, Tombain

ENV7 Civic SpaceThe Square

ENV11 CemeteriesCemetery

TPO Tree Preservation OrderBraes of Allachie

Wider Environmental Designations

AGLV: The whole area outwith the townboundary, is designated as an Area of GreatLandscape Value covering the Spey Valley

Speyside Way: The Speyside Way follows theline of the old railway through the town. Newdevelopment which abuts the Speyside Waymust not impair its attractiveness to walkers

SSSI: The River Spey is a designated Site ofSpecial Scientific Interest

SAC: The River Spey is a designated SpecialArea of Conservation

ABERLOURPopulation: 1279Households: 5292011 Census

Proposed Moray Local Development Plan SETTLEMENTS 92

Crown Copyright 2014 The Moray Council 100023422

ABERLOUR TSP

Proposed Moray Local Development Plan SETTLEMENTS 93ABERLOUR

Crown Copyright 2014 The Moray Council 100023422

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1* A95/SpeyviewNew junction onto A95 to provide access to R1 designation. Existing speed limits willneed to be relocated. Approval in principle is required from Transport Scotland.

2 A95/U100aH Dowans RoadJunction improvements may be required associated with impact from developmenttraffic (R3)

3 Sellar PlaceImprovements required to junction with Dowans Road, footways to be provided on thenorth east side. All associated with development of R3

4 A95/C59H Ruthrie RoadIn order to allow further development via Ruthrie Road Junction, improvements will berequired to overcome topographical constraints.

5 Ruthrie Road4.5m verge for future widening of Ruthrie Road required. Emergency Access also for theR3 designation

6 Allachy TerraceAccess to R1 designation from Allachy Terrace (removal of 34 Allachy Terrace)

7* Queens Road/Chapel Terrace and Allachie DriveJunction improvements required to allow any further development. Junctionconstrained due to topography

8* Allachie Drive (U108H)Improvements required including widening of carriageway to 5.5m, provision of at leastone 2m wide footway on the south side and a 1m verge on the north side. Improvementto drainage and provision of grit bins. Associated with development of R2 and LONG.

9 Allachie Drive (U108H)New access onto Allachie Drive (U108H) to serve the R2 (South) designation.Improvements to Allachie Drive (TSP8) will need to be extended

10 Allachie Drive (U108H)New access onto Allachie Drive (U108H) to serve the R2 (north) designation.Improvements to Allachie Drive (TSP8) will need to be extended

Well designed road frontagescreating a sense of arrival.Building and softlandscaping fronting theroad, avoiding high woodenfences as boundarytreatments.

Potential Employment

Major Access (all modes)

Footpath/Cycle links

Woodland Planting (ScotsPine or other appropriateconifer), large forestbroadleaves such as oak,aspen, maple and supportingshrub layer.

Phased Development

Slopes

R4 SPEYVIEWABERLOURKEY DESIGNPRINCIPLES

RETAINEXISTINGTREES

DEVELOPMENT IN PHASES OF 25 HOUSESTHAT PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY AND RELATETO SUBSEQUENT PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT

WOODLAND PLANTING SHOULD BEUNDERTAKEN TO MOST EXPOSED HIGH

POINTS OF THE SITE AND HELPREINFORCE CONTAINMENT AND SHELTER

AND IN DUE COURSE ESTABLISH ASETTING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT

INDICATIVE DETAILS OFTHE JUNCTION

IMPROVEMENTS AREAVAILABLE FROM THEMORAY COUNCILTRANSPORTATION

SECTION

PUBLIC ACCESS ROUTESSHOULD AIM TO CREATE SAFEAND ATTRACTIVE ROUTES

LOW BUILDINGS, LIMITED TO11/2 STOREYS, POSSIBLYONLY SINGLE STOREY INPLACES TO REDUCE VISUAL

IMPACT

ENTRANCEGATEWAY

ENTRANCEGATEWAY

POTENTIALEMPLOYMENT

LAND

DWELLINGS SHOULDFRONT ONTO ROADSIDE TOREFLECT CHARACTER OFOLDER PART OF ABERLOUR

HOUSES SHOULD IF POSSIBLE BEORIENTATED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OFVIEWS ALONG THE SPEY VALLEY ANDMAXIMISE OPPORTUNITIES FOR

PASSIVE SOUTH GAIN

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