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Map
of Woodend showing existing and proposed developments.
To view details, simply move cursor over green box and left click
Woodend
Barn Arts Centre - www.woodendbarn.co.uk
The
Barn is an important community facility serving both Banchory
and the wider community. It includes an exhibition and workshop
space and a larger space which is used for concerts, ceilidhs,
theatre, dance, comedy and many other events. It is also available
for private hire for weddings, parties and conferences. The Barn
hosts various local groups including Woodend Music Society, the
Lang Byre Gallery, the Third Stage project, Woodend Allotments
and Wild Garden.
Woodend Café/Bistro
Planning permission has been granted for the development of a
café/bistro as an extension to the existing Woodend Barn.
The modern design was developed by local architect, Gary Grant.
View
Planning Application
Woodend
Allotments
The allotments at Woodend have been a hugely successful project,
and it is hoped that it can be extended in the future to provide
additional allotments for local people.
Woodend
Rugby Pitches
A
planning application has recently been submitted to Aberdeenshire
Council seeking permission for the creation of two full
sized and two half sized rugby pitches. The pitches will
become the home location for the Deeside Rugby Club, who
currently play at Aboyne, and will provide an excellent
facility for all age groups and abilities. Long term plans
include the creation of a clubhouse.
View
Planning Application
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Deeside RFC Seniors |
Proposed
church - Design
statement - http://www.bcfchurch.org.uk/
Banchory Christian Fellowship
Church is an independent, non-denominational Church drawing members
from a wide variety of Church backgrounds. Formally constituted
in 2003 with no permanent premises the church has grown substantially
in numbers. This and the fact the Church runs a wide range of
community based activities means it now needs its own building.
The proposed location for the new Church facility is at Banchory
Hill. Just off the A93 running South West from Aberdeen, surrounded
by the picturesque landscape of Royal Deeside.
The site is on a south facing slope bounded to the West by Banchory
business Centre, shielded from view by woodland. To the East is
situated the Woodend Barn complex. A charming collection of farm
buildings containing a community arts venue. Woodland wraps around
the site to the North and views of the hills are offered beyond
the road to the South. The
site is accessed from the south off the existing roadway serving
Woodend Barn.
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The
Church is a single storey construction with the internal
functions clearly expressed externally. The lower block,
of a similar scale to the farmer’s cottage in the
Woodend barn complex contains cellular spaces such as teaching
rooms, crèche and offices. The taller block, of a
similar scale to the barns across the way contains the Sanctuary
and sports hall. The volumes hinge upon the entrance space,
containing an intimate gathering space / café.
The
materials used reflect the farm building theme, compliment
the existing built and natural context and are sustainable.
White render and timber for the walls, agricultural style
and recyclable zinc roofing. The proportions of the openings
in the block containing the cellular spaces echo doorways
into a cow byre. Car
parking is provided within the site.
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We will provide a complimentary soft landscaping scheme
to reinforce the wooded setting and to “bed in” the
development as the plants and trees develop and make the whole
development integrate into its mature setting. This should promote
the existing biodiversity already in the locality.
A sustainable urban drainage scheme will be prepared to comply
with current SEPA regulations and minimise the impact surface
water will have on the existing infrastructure.
The church is envisioned as an open, welcoming and modern facility,
and the architecture reflects this. We believe the proposal though
respectful of history and the landscape has to be of its time.
The new Church will provide much needed community facilities and
provide an extremely positive contribution to the neighbourhood
and the area as a whole.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION
Extension
to Allotments
There are over 60 plot holders at the Woodend Allotments, including
a number of community groups, including the Scolty Centre, Banchory
Primary School, and others. It is therefore proposed to extend
further, and build on this success.
Clubhouse
Initial proposals for the rugby pitches to the South of the Woodend
Barn Arts Centre incorporate the use of temporary changing facilities,
but we are keen to pursue the creation of a permanent clubhouse
to support the pitches. Clearly this would be in keeping with
the sustainable design, construction and operation ethos that
characterises the Woodend development.
Eco
Village
A site to the North East of the Woodend Barn Arts Centre has been
identified as a possible location for an eco village. This would
allow for the development of dwellings that are exemplars in the
field of low and zero carbon technologies, from the materials,
to the construction process and ultimately the continued heating
and powering of the house. Similar to the example of Findhorn,
near Forres, and within the boundaries of a real living environment,
the development could be an educational tourist attraction that
would sit very comfortably with the existing and proposed sustainable
schemes at Woodend.
In
addition to the detached plots, the plan shows an area
in the centre
of the site that could be developed as terraced rows,
contributing 20-30% of the housing as affordable, in
line with Aberdeenshire Council’s targets. Terraced
housing is also present in the Findhorn development.
SCOTCAT
– Scottish Centre for Alternative Technology - www.scotcat.co.uk
ScotCAT
is working to establish a centre promoting sustainable
living in Banchory. The ScotCAT
project is supported by Woodend
Arts Association, Leys Estate and the Bancon Group.
The proposal is for a site centered around the existing Woodend
Barn Arts Centre containing:
A
Centre building providing information, education, demonstration,
retail and office/conference facilities.
Retrofitting
of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in an
existing farmhouse.
Visitor and tourist accommodation in the form of eco-chalets.
A café.
Further visitor attractions and displays to complete the site.
A website providing information and an online shop.
Associated initiatives nearby with which ScotCAT may collaborate
include:
Development of commercially-zoned land as a Sustainable Technologies
Business Park.
Further development of the neighbouring Hill of Banchory residential
area with high-specification housing
Hill of Banchory Esco Limited: A biomass combined-heat-and-power
plant and district heating
A Park and Ride transport scheme
Influencing any nearby retail development to promote eco-efficiency.
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