The Rowett South masterplan includes plans for 1,700 houses and apartments alongside community investment for Bucksburn and Newhills, totalling approximately £17 million.

More than 500 homes are already either complete or under construction, including 183 affordable homes. 

New community facilities such as a school, health hub and retail units will be built around green spaces, with further investment into the local transport fund and A96 upgrades.

The overall site, extending over 100 hectares, lies adjacent to the A96 Inverurie Road at Bucksburn and extends to the Craibstone roundabout.

The deal, which will enable the remaining 1,200 homes to be delivered, was led by Craig Fotheringham, land director at Bancon Homes.

He said it was important to preserve the legacy of the site and its contribution to human health.

“The completion of the sale of the land at Rowett South is an important milestone in the history of the Rowett Institute, and we are proud to be the new custodians of this historic site,” Fotheringham added.

“The plans are significant and will provide housing for future generations as well as much-needed community facilities for the Bucksburn and Newhills area. We look forward to continuing our development of the site, in partnership with other housebuilders and housing associations, to develop a new community that will complete the existing housing.”

Development of the Rowett South site, on the edge of Aberdeen in Bucksburn, began in 2018 with Bancon Homes’ community of 183 affordable homes at Kinion Place.

Work is now progressing on Kinion Heights, a community of 63 private homes, due to be completed next spring. Bancon Homes will continue to work with other housebuilders to develop the site.

The Rowett Institute is a renowned research centre for studies into food and nutrition. Founded in 1913 by John Boyd Orr, later awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, its purpose-built home at Bucksburn was opened by Queen Mary in 1922.

The institute merged with the University of Aberdeen in 2008 to create a world class centre of research in nutrition and health. In 2016, it moved to a state-of-the-art building at the Foresterhill health campus.