New owner of unfinished 3,000-home development

A new owner has taken over a building firm behind an unfinished housing estate on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Countesswells Development Ltd (CDL), which went into administration in November 2021, planned to construct about 3,000 homes as well as schools, retail and leisure facilities.

It is thought about 900 homes have been built in Countesswells, a suburb which lies to the west of Aberdeen.

Stirling-based Ogilvie Homes Ltd has bought land and some of CDL's assets for an undisclosed sum.

The company said it was looking forward to pushing ahead with the development.

CDL blamed the oil and gas downturn and Covid pandemic for the administration move.

But it said it firmly believed in the future of the housing project, which was split between a number of housebuilders.

Among them was the Stewart Milne Group, which collapsed last year.

Although building work on housing has stalled in recent years, the new community is now home to a primary school and a health centre, as well as some shops.

However, amid the uncertainty over its future, Aberdeen City Council decided last year not to build a proposed secondary school.

The local authority opted instead for a replacement academy at Hazlehead instead.

It will take pupils from areas including Countesswells.

Ogilvie Homes' land director Julie Leece said: "Countesswells is a significant new premium mixed-use development that is already proving to be a major asset to the north east of Scotland.

"We look forward to working with current and new home owners, the local community and key stakeholders, developers, investors and suppliers on the next phases of the masterplan."

Tom MacLennan, of administrators FRP Advisory, said the firm was "very pleased" to have completed the sale.

He added: "We would also like to thank residents, the local community and a wide range of stakeholders for their patience and support throughout."