| Administrative History | The Town Planning Department was established on 1 November 1949. W A Colclough (previously Chief in the firm of W Dobson Chapman & Partners) was appointed as the first Director of Town Planning, and the Department was staffed by those members of the City Engineer's Department who had been involved in town planning. The Department was responsible for the preparation of a Development Plan for the City in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1947, and for the administration of the local regulations for the erection and alteration of buildings.
From Iain Gray's notes 2003:
1925 Town Planning (Scotland) Act allowed local authorities to prepare schemes to control development in as-yet undeveloped areas.
1933 The Town Planning (Scotland) Act 1925 allowed local authorities to prepare schemes to control development in as-yet undeveloped areas. In 1928 Aberdeen Town Council, Aberdeen County Council and Kincardine County Council resolved to prepare a Joint Scheme. Preparation was entrusted to a committee of eleven members: six from Aberdeen Town Council, three from Aberdeen County Council and two from Kincardine County Council. The Scheme provided for the planning of new roads, the conservation of open space, zoning for land use and determination of the density of new residential developments. The Scheme, which extended north to south from Brimmond Hill to Portlethen, and west to Peterculter, was completed and approved by the Department of Health for Scotland in 1933. The City Engineer was responsible for devising and implementing the scheme until the establishment of the Department of Town Planning in 1949.
1943 Town Council undertook a survey of the central area of the City, recording the use of land and buildings, the height and number of storeys of buildings, and their suitability for modern requirements.
1947 W Dobson Chapman & Partners commissioned to undertake a advisory plan for the City not covered by the District Joint Town Planning Scheme.
Town & Country Planning Act requires local authorities to undertake survey of area, prepare and revise Development Plan, and consider applications for planning permission and advertisement signs in context of Development Plan.
1949 Publication of Survey Report and Planning Proposals by W Dobson Chapman & Partners
Establishment of Planning Department
1958 Approval of Aberdeen City Development Plan
1965 Quinquennial Review revised Development Plan
1967 Designation of conservation areas and listed buildings |