A new project director has been appointed to oversee the delivery of the £800 million new community of Countesswells to the West of Aberdeen.

Allan McGregor, formerly project manager for Countesswells, has been promoted to project director. In his new role he will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of the new 3,000 home community which includes new schools and community facilities and amenities, retail and business accommodation alongside extensive green spaces, parkland and high quality landscaping.

The community is being taken forward by Countesswells Development Limited (CDL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Stewart Milne Group.

Glenn Allison, chief executive of Stewart Milne Group, said: “Allan’s promotion is richly deserved. His experience of working on infrastructure projects, coupled with his track-record in delivery and the knowledge of Countesswells, make him the ideal person to lead this major project. The new community of Countesswells will deliver much needed housing to the region along with clear economic benefits, including employment opportunities during and after construction.”

Mr McGregor joined the Countesswells project team in 2016 and has 20 years’ experience working in public and private development management with Robertson Group and Morgan Sindall Group plc.

He takes on the position of project director from Jim Fitzsimons who is to become director of special projects for Stewart Milne Group based in Central Scotland. Mr Fitzsimons will remain involved in specific aspects of the delivery of Countesswells.

Mr McGregor added: “Countesswells is an ambitious and unique development for the region and an exemplary project in terms of its funding, master-planning, design and delivery. I’m proud to build on the work achieved by Jim and the team and to lead the next phase. We are nearing completion of the first phase of infrastructure works and are progressing the extensive and impressive landscaping. With residents now moving in, the new community is really starting to take shape.”

The new community of Countesswells, which will have 3,000 new homes including 750 affordable, will be phased over 15 years, boosting the local economy and supporting 1,000 construction jobs in the region.

Facilities within Countesswells will include a new secondary school and two primary schools, healthcare facilities, local business units, retail and leisure, together with high quality open spaces linking the community to the existing environmental resources at Countesswells and Hazlehead. The project will also include upgraded access roads. The first residents moved in earlier this month.