Developer strikes deal with Aberdeen University for 1,700 homes on former institute site outside city

Bancon Homes has reached an agreement with Aberdeen University, allowing plans for 1,700 new homes to be built on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

The 250-acre site, called Rowett South, is adjacent to the A96 Inverurie Road at Bucksburn and extends to the Craibstone roundabout.

The land needed for the development is owned by Aberdeen University as part of the former Rowett Institute, a research centre for food and nutrition.

The institute merged with the university in 2008 and moved to a new state-of-the-art campus at Foresterhill Health Campus in 2016.

Plans include 1,700 houses and apartments along alongside community investment for Bucksburn and Newhills, totalling approximately £17 million.

Over 500 homes are already either complete or under construction by Bancon Homes, including 183 affordable homes.

The deal was handled by Craig Fotheringham, land director at Bancon Homes, who noted that they wanted to preserve the legacy of the site and its contribution to human health.

He said: “The completion of the sale of the land at Rowett South is an important milestone in the history of the Rowett Institute, and we are proud to be the new custodians of this historic site.

“The plans are significant and will provide housing for future generations as well as much-needed community facilities for the Bucksburn and Newhills area.

“We look forward to continuing our development of the site, in partnership with other housebuilders and housing associations, to develop a new community that will complete the existing housing.”

New community facilities such as a school, health hub and retail units will be built around green spaces, with further investment into the local transport fund and A96 upgrades.

Development of the Rowett South site, on the edge of Aberdeen in Bucksburn, began in 2018 with work now progressing on Kinion Heights, a community of 63 private homes, due to be completed next spring.