Residents have hit out at roads bosses after office blocks and work sites connected to the construction of Aberdeen’s long awaited bypass sprung up on their doorsteps – with no prior warning.
A series of developments have appeared along the route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), which will eventually connect the A90 at Stonehaven and Charleston with the Aberdeen-Ellon section of the road at Blackdog.
While motorists have long campaigned for the road as a means to easing traffic congestion, some locals are angry at the disruption that the construction phase will bring.
Last night Stonehaven community council hit out at the “prominent” AWPR office block which has been established on land on the outskirts of the seaside town.
The group said it had not been consulted before the two-storey development and accompanying car park was set up beside the B979 Stonehaven to Maryculter road by contractors Aberdeen Roads Ltd (ARL), and raised concerns about flooding at the site.
It comes as a large office and work site takes shape at land just south of Balmedie, which will act as a focal point for the Tipperty to Balmedie dualling project.
Another office site is planned for Craibstone and other satellite offices will be set up at locations along the length of the route, which is due to be completed in winter 2017.
ARL is understood to have used permitted development rights, which allow them to build on land designated for the AWPR without having to seek planning permission.
However, the vice-chairman of Stonehaven community council, Phil Mills-Bishop, said he was alarmed to see the office building had “suddenly sprung up” without anyone consulting the group.
He said: “The office building which we see now – which is quite a prominent feature in the landscape – is supposed to be there until the completion of the future AWPR.
“It is quite a substantial building. It has suddenly sprung up, we don’t know anything about it. It just suddenly appeared and it would have been nice if they at least told us it was happening.
“There is the possibility if we have long periods of deluge that water is going to run off. We have got a semi-permanent building there.
“We would like somebody to come and talk to us about the progress, about liaising with us about completion dates and what is happening.”
However Stonehaven councillor Graeme Clark urged residents to look to the long-term benefits.
He said: “Some people might say it is a bit of an eyesore but to me it is a sign of progress because we waited all those months and years. We are desperate for the AWPR here.”
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “As is routine in these circumstances, any requirement for planning consent is determined by the local authority.
“There are a number of temporary site offices located along the 58km (36-mile) route of the project, for logistical reasons, and we understand that these will be in use until construction has been completed.
“Drainage design is one of a number of factors which has been considered in determining the location of these offices.
“We understand that the contractor has consulted with the local authorities and that the councils are content with the locations of the temporary offices.
“The main site office will be located in Stonehaven and section offices will be located in Craibstone and Balmedie.
“There will also be satellite offices throughout the site as well as smaller scale facilities for welfare purposes.”
An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman the local authority – in common with Aberdeen City Council, Transport Scotland and Nestrans – had consulted extensively with the public, including community councils, on the project for several years.
“The modular buildings being assembled near Stonehaven will create temporary office accommodation for hundreds of staff involved in this project which will provide much-needed improvements to infrastructure in the north-east,” she added.
Both sites at Balmedie and Stonehaven have been permitted on the basis that they only exist “for a limited period of time”.
Mid-Formartine councillor Paul Johnston said it was common practice for such sites to be established for large projects such as the Aberdeen bypass, and that planning permission is not required if the permitted development rights have been followed.
The Balmedie site will be the main office for the project management of the Balmedie to Tipperty dualling, which forms part of the AWPR scheme.
It is thought that machinery, building materials, toilets and break rooms will all be established in the field off the north-east coast.
Mr Johnston said: “There is a temporary office complex in Balmedie to serve the main contractors for the Balmedie to Tipperty section. It will grow and shrink as we move closer to completion.
“Generally when the size of the engineering project is fairly big, we would expect a major engineering project to have a fairly sizeable office.
“It is a big complex, but it is a massive project. There are quite a few thousand people actually working on it.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) revealed plans to create a workers’ accommodation site next to Craibstone Golf Club last week.
Around 400 workers could also be housed at the site after ARL put its talks with Digs2Go to convert the Old Mill Inn in Maryculter into a worker’s village on hold.
A Transport Scotland spokesman assured residents that neither the Stonehaven or Balmedie sites would be used as accommodation.
He added: “We are aware that Aberdeen Roads Limited has investigated a number of potential sites for accommodation purposes.
“It is currently progressing with the provision of an accommodation site for up to 400 people at Craibstone.”
How long will they be there for?
Both sites at Balmedie and Stonehaven have been permitted on the basis that they only exist “for a limited period of time”.
Mid-Formartine councillor Paul Johnston said it was common practice for such sites to be established for large projects such as the Aberdeen bypass, and that planning permission is not required if the permitted development rights have been followed.
The Balmedie site will be the main office for the project management of the Balmedie to Tipperty dualling, which forms part of the AWPR scheme.
It is thought that machinery, building materials, toilets and break rooms will all be established in the field off the north-east coast.
Mr Johnston said: “There is a temporary office complex in Balmedie to serve the main contractors for the Balmedie to Tipperty section. It will grow and shrink as we move closer to completion.
“Generally when the size of the engineering project is fairly big, we would expect a major engineering project to have a fairly sizeable office.
“It is a big complex, but it is a massive project. There are quite a few thousand people actually working on it.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) revealed plans to create a workers’ accommodation site next to Craibstone Golf Club last week.
Around 400 workers could also be housed at the site after ARL put its talks with Digs2Go to convert the Old Mill Inn in Maryculter into a worker’s village on hold.
A Transport Scotland spokesman assured residents that neither the Stonehaven or Balmedie sites would be used as accommodation.
He added: “We are aware that Aberdeen Roads Limited has investigated a number of potential sites for accommodation purposes.
“It is currently progressing with the provision of an accommodation site for up to 400 people at Craibstone.”