ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will provide a new strategic route to improve travel in and around Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland and take through traffic away from the city. The route is backed by the Scottish Government and is being developed by Transport Scotland, in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

Following consultation in spring 2005 on route options for the southern section of the road, the Minister for Transport announced the Executive's chosen route option on 1 December 2005. This involves constructing the 'Milltimber Brae' route option, combined with an additional spur to Stonehaven, relieving traffic on the existing A90. Further information on the detail of the route was published on 2 May 2006.

Draft mainline and de-trunking road orders were published for consultation in December 2006 and again with the publication of draft side road and compulsory purchase orders for consultation in September 2007.  A public local inquiry commenced in September 2008 and the reporters submitted their report and recommendations to Ministers in summer 2009.  The Scottish Government decided to proceed with the route in December 2009. The Scheme and Trunk Road Orders were approved by Parliament in March 2010 and notice published of when the orders would come into force, which initiated a 6 week period in which challenges could be made.   

Three legal challenges were lodged with the Court of Session in early May 2010 to challenge the decision of the Scottish Ministers to proceed with the AWPR and the making of the Schemes and Orders.  The subsequent hearing began in the Court of Session on 22 February 2011 and lasted for 9 days.  The judgement from the Court of Session was announced on 11 August 2011. The court rejected the appellants' arguments, ruling that Scottish Ministers addressed all of the relevant requirements.  An appeal to challenge the ruling has now been lodged and construction of the road can not be progressed until this appeal is concluded.  The court has set a date of 13 December 2011 for 4 days to hear arguments from both sides.

Further details are available on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route website.

The AWPR was central to the Modern Transport System and has a key role in enabling other elements of that strategy and the subsequent Regional Transport Strategy to be delivered. Other projects in the North East with Government commitment such as the A90 Balmedie to Tipperty dualling and Park & Ride sites that had been proposed for inclusion within the AWPR contract are also being delayed pending the latest legal challenge.