Aberdeen green space the size of 130 football pitches to be developed into council housing

An area of land the size of 130 football pitches is being considered for development in Aberdeen.

The proposed Greenferns Landward site near Bucksburn is currently used as farmland and is a well-known walking hotspot for residents.

But a 10 year development process will make the area home to hundreds of council houses, a new school and a retail space.

Locals are petitioning against the new site but Aberdeen City Council say it will help with housing issues as over 6,000 people remain on the waiting list for a property.

Adrianna Sosnowska, a resident behind the petition says she received a letter from the council three weeks ago.

She said: “They want to destroy all the green land here and put up lots of concrete around us.

“We need a place like this for walks for our mental health.”

Katarzyna Krawczyk is also petitioning against the development.

She said: “This is about a nine minute drive from the city centre and we are literally in the countryside.

“This will be completely demolished and replaced with blocks of flats and housing. This is a sort of place you can take your kids and teach them about nature, and people take their dogs on walks, cycling, it’s a very busy area.”

Members of the community have gathered on the land to show their support for the petition.

“It’s rubbish, we’ve had this space for ages, I don’t understand why green spaces can’t just be left alone, why does everything need to have houses and buildings on it.”

Another said: “What worries me is they are going on about polloution but they are away to build all these flats and houses and they are going to have cars – so make up your mind – do you want us to have nice clean air and hear the animals and go on walks or do you want concrete jungles?”

The council have invited residents to have their say before a decision is made next year.

Kaylin Greig keeps animals on the site and fears they’ll have nowhere to go once the land is gone.

She said: “I would have to rehome my animals I think because livery is so expensive.”

The deadline for residents comments is next month and if the development goes ahead, work will begin next winter.

An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “A public consultation is currently being held into a proposed new site for council housing and people are welcome to take part in the consultation.”