Part of the Greenferns masterplan, the residential build by AtkinsRealis and Optimised Environments (OPEN) forms one part of the Newhills Expansion Area, a major urban expansion area on the western edge of Aberdeen of up to 1,500 properties, a school and a gypsy traveller site.

One of the most significant expansion areas for Aberdeen in the next 20 years, the Newhills area will form a new western boundary to the city and benefits from excellent connections via the AWPR and the A96(T) both into the city and outward to the surrounding area.

OPEN was commissioned by Aberdeen City Council to develop an appraisal of the site at Greenferns Landward identified as OP31 within the Aberdeen Local Development Plan (ALDP)(2012).

The company said: “The site at Greenferns Landward has the opportunity to develop as a unique and distinctive Aberdeen neighbourhood that takes advantage of proximity to established communities whilst forming its own identity within the wider Newhills development area. It benefits from being adjacent or close to several landscape resources such as Burnbrae Moss, Brimmond Hill and Craibstone Estate, which create a characterful setting and offer opportunities for recreational access.

“Positioned on the edge of the city, with clear visual connections to the bounding hills of the Tyrebagger and Fernhill, the site has the potential to be a very specific countryside edge neighbourhood which creates a distinctive settlement boundary rather than a standard suburban response.”

In a vision statement, the council wrote: “The Greenferns Landward site offers the opportunity for a new residential neighbourhood which is carefully tied into the existing city and will form the new western urban edge. The site will be well integrated with pedestrian and cycle connections to the existing network at numerous locations and proposes a new movement network throughout the site which will ensure walking and cycling is easy and direct.”