Plans to create a 3000-home development in Aberdeen have moved a step closer.

The developers behind the 165-hectare Countesswells development have lodged a proposal of application notice with Aberdeen City Council.

Heron Property, Stewart Milne Homes and IDJ Properties make up the Countesswells Consortium behind the project, which would include employment, retail and a range of community facilities.

Public consultation events are taking place on September 6, 3pm-8pm at the Fourmile House, Old Skene Road, Kingswells, on September 7, 3pm-8pm at Airyhall Community Centre and on September 8, 10am-4pm at Cults Academy.

A planning application is expected to be lodged in late 2012. If approved, it is anticipated that work will commence within the next two years. The development is expected to be built over a 15-year period.

The local authority must be notified of major planning applications at least 12 weeks before an applicant proposes to submit a formal planning application to allow a period of pre-application consultation to take place.

The earliest date that a planning application can be submitted is November 9.

Marianne McGowan from the Countesswells Consortium said: “We are delighted to be coming back to the community with new updated proposals for the site, which takes account of the feedback received from the first series of events in June. In addition to this the Consortium has been holding meetings with the local community and key stakeholders on an ongoing basis.

“Countesswells is one of the most exciting developments to take place in Aberdeen for a generation and will provide an ideal place to live, work and play. As an allocated site in the adopted Aberdeen Local Development Plan the delivery of the site will ensure that Aberdeen goes some way to meeting its housing and employment requirements and we look forward to meeting with the local community again in September.”

Further information can be found on: www.countesswells.com.