22 December 2008
Plans for College
Aberdeen College campus plan for Donside Urban Village
[Click here for a text copy of full press release]
Aberdeen College and Devanha Ltd, a partnership of North-east housing associations, have confirmed plans for a new college campus in the Donside Urban Village at the former Donside Paper Mill, in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen.
The plans would see Aberdeen College relocate 
most of its city centre facilities to a new riverside campus within the Donside Urban Village. The site of the proposed college campus was originally suggested as a potential site for a hotel.
Planning permission for the housing development in the Donside Urban Village was granted by Aberdeen City Council in April this year. The 25-acre brownfield site was approved for 278 new homes, making it the largest affordable home development ever seen in North East Scotland.
Commenting on the proposal to develop a college campus as part of the village, Aberdeen College Principal Rae Angus said:
“The College is keen to replace most of its city centre site and the location at Donside is an excellent opportunity. We look forward to working with Tenants First to bring the matter to a successful conclusion in the very near future.”
Sandy Murray, Chief Executive of Tenants First Housing Co-operative has commented that:
“Aberdeen College is not only a major employer, the development of a new campus is a prestigious development that will certainly bring significant benefits for Donside Urban Village and the regeneration of the Tillydrone area of the city.”
The former Donside Paper Mill site was purchased by Devanha Ltd in 2007 with support from the Scottish Government. The Donside Urban Village is being developed on behalf of four housing associations within Devanha – Tenants First Housing Co-operative, Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership and Grampian and Langstane housing associations.
The College is keen to replace most of its city centre site and the location at Donside is an excellent opportunity. We look forward to working with Tenants First to bring the matter to a successful conclusion in the very near future.
Rae Angus,
Aberdeen College Principal
It will be a mixed tenure development providing affordable homes along with some for private purchase. To ensure the village has a life of its own, the plans include office space, business start up units and provision for neighbourhood shops.
A proposed hydro-electric plant on the old mill lade would produce around twice the electricity needed for the village. The homes will also feature solar water heating along with particularly high levels of insulation. The construction materials have been chosen for their low energy usage.
To find out more about the development go to our Donside Urban Village page by clicking here
