FG Burnett, Savills and Shepherds have been appointed to advise on and market the diverse commercial property opportunities at Aberdeen’s newest community.
Following a competitive tendering process, the commercial property agents have been selected to assist in the delivery of the unique retail and commercial spaces to be created at Countesswells.
Each firm will be given specific tasks in the development of the new retail and commercial opportunities. They will also be required to identify and sell these opportunities to potential occupiers.
Countesswells, which represents a £800million investment in the region, is a new town that will eventually comprise 3,000 homes, two primary schools and an academy, community facilities, retail and businesses, alongside civic spaces and a mix of landscaped and informal green space for around 7,000 people on the 400-acre site.
The development framework sets out a number of retail, commercial, community and educational facilities to serve the new population, and create an attractive location for visitors
The new town is being brought forward by Countesswells Development Limited (CDL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Stewart Milne Group, and backed by an innovative HM Treasury guarantee, which has enabled the up-front investment in and delivery of major infrastructure, including fibre optic cabling which offers the fastest broadband speeds in the country.
As well as a new Town Centre in the heart of the new community, there will also be a secondary neighbourhood centre, with retail and commercial opportunities for the firms to bring forward and deliver alongside the other non-residential elements such as the new health facility and schools. This will include an initial assessment and advising on the scale, design, location, timing and nature of individual development opportunities. The companies will also handle enquiries for retail and commercial floorspace as well as development land, which is already attracting interest from occupiers looking to move into the new community.
Work is about to get underway on the first neighbourhood centre within Countesswells, which has plans for a food store, ancillary food, non-food and service retail units. The neighbourhood centre lies towards the northern part of the site, at the junction of the two new access roads to be built, linking the site with the A944. This will be developed within the next two to three years. Land at this location has also been earmarked for a potential stand-alone office development.
Jim Fitzsimons, director of special projects at SMG, said: “Although large scale office development is not envisaged within Countesswells, we wish to explore the potential for developing office space which will attract niche markets or create incubator space for specific market sectors in this exceptional location with ultrafast broadband.
“The design and quality of developments will be a key differentiator at Countesswells. Development Briefs and Public Realm documents will guide developers on what is expected, including density, scale, design aspirations and a material pallet. This will apply as much to the commercial developments as it does to housing, and together with Aberdeen City Council, we have formed a placemaking team to examine ways in which the commercial elements can work alongside the education, health and other community uses to create an exciting, attractive, integrated and commercially viable town centre.”
Chris Grinyer, managing partner at Shepherd, added: “Countesswells is very much a carefully masterplanned development, with the extensive landscaping and quality public areas which have already been created, providing an exceptional environment for businesses of a varying nature.
“The proximity of the AWPR will also mean the area will enjoy rapid access to the road network serving the North-east, allowing clients, customers and staff short travel times. The available high-speed internet connectivity also adds to the offering and we are anticipating strong interest from discerning businesses who very much want to be part of the Countesswells success story.”
Dan Smith, director of business space at Savills, said: “Savills is delighted to be appointed to market the commercial element of the exciting new Countesswells community. We look forward to being able to draw on our extensive UK network and local expertise to help deliver this quality-led development.”
Richard Noble, managing director at FG Burnett, commented: “We are delighted that we have been appointed to the panel of property advisors for this key project. Countesswells occupies a unique location and will evolve into a successful sustainable community with its own character and identity where people can live, work and play. To play a part in delivering that is exciting.”