Countesswells (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Cobhan an t-Eas[1]) is an area of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Countesswells
Cultsburn Park in Countesswells
Countesswells is located in Aberdeen City council area
Countesswells
Countesswells
Countesswells is located in Scotland
Countesswells
Countesswells
Location within Scotland
OS grid referenceNJ872051
Council area
Lieutenancy area
  • Aberdeen
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townABERDEEN
Postcode districtAB15
Dialling code01224
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
Websiteaberdeencity.gov.uk
List of places
UK
Scotland
57°08′12″N 2°12′45″W / 57.136675°N 2.2125404°W / 57.136675; -2.2125404

Construction

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In 2014, planning permission was granted for 3,000 homes in the area.[2][3] However, the development was initially delayed after the developers and land owners could not agree on the funding for schools and infrastructure.[4] In April 2016, Stewart Milne Group stated that it expected to start work on the development immediately.[5] By November 2021, 900 homes were either completed or under construction.[6]

Facilities

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There is a Sainsbury's[7] and a primary school,[8] along with a number of vacant shop units - the NHS has been granted planning permission for one of these.[9] A pharmacy has applied for a licence for one of the units which was rejected by the local NHS board after pharmacies in Cults and Kingswells said it would lose them business [10] - this is awaiting appeal as of August 2023.[11] There are a number of empty commercial units both beside the school and towards where the planned town-centre will eventually be.

Cults Burn Park

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Cults Burn Park is currently partially constructed and will eventually run through most of the development.[12]

Forest Access

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There are three wooded areas around Countesswells. To the West is Countesswells Forest,[13] which was heavily damaged in a major winter storm. To the South is Foggieton.[14] To the East is the wooded area at the back of Hazlehead Park.

Transportation

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There are two bus routes to Countesswells; one via First Aberdeen, the other via Stagecoach using route number 4.[15] In July 2022, service 15 was introduced by First Aberdeen. It runs from Countesswells to Balnagask via Aberdeen city centre.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Celtic Place Names in Aberdeenshire".
  2. ^ "Approval recommended for 3,000 new Aberdeen homes". BBC News. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Approval for 3,000 new homes at Countesswells in Aberdeen". BBC News. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Aberdeen councillors reject special Countesswells planning conditions". Scottish Housing News. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  5. ^ McCulloch, Scott (1 April 2016). "Stewart Milne Group secures £86m government guarantee for Aberdeen development". businessInsider. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. ^ Smulian, Mark (26 November 2021). "Major development collapses into administration". Construction News. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Sainsbury's opens new Aberdeen Store".
  8. ^ "Pupils celebrate official opening of new Countesswells School".
  9. ^ "Planning - application summary".
  10. ^ "Form A(1)" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Current Pharmacy Applications".
  12. ^ "Cults Burn Park Optimised Environments".
  13. ^ "Countesswells Forest".
  14. ^ "Foggieton".
  15. ^ "stagecoach-announces-revisions-for-aberdeenshire-routes".
  16. ^ Milne, Ellie. "First Aberdeen announce shake-up of services to make bus journeys faster". Press and Journal. Retrieved 29 June 2022.