Aberdeenshire town centre health checks published

Ten town centres across Aberdeenshire have benefited from an updated health check to assess their strengths, vitality and viability, weaknesses and resilience.

Throughout September last year, on-site analysis was undertaken in Banchory, Banff, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Huntly, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Turriff and Macduff on a range of factors which look to identify successful town centres and indicate good standards of vitality and viability. 

Aberdeenshire Council’s Planning Information and Delivery Team has now produced the final reports which have a new format from previous years providing a more interactive output for the user while continuing to build a clear picture of the health of a particular town.  

Paul Macari, Head of Planning and Economy, said: “Regular health checks provide us with a meaningful local evidence base of the strengths and weaknesses of our town centres, this is used in several ways including informing our development plans and decision-making on future planning applications.

"I’m pleased that the new GIS map-based format makes the health checks more engaging to use and also that emerging trends will become apparent visually which is beneficial for determining future investment.”

You can access the findings of the health checks for last year’s participating town centres at https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/plans-and-policies/policy-other-information/