Local councillors and members of the public, who are invited to attend, will express their views on how the town's growth should be managed over the next quarter century - in particular what, if any restrictions should apply to expansion.

The meetings will take place at the Kirk Centre on Station Road at 10am.
The committee is made up of councillors who make decisions on local planning issues. Any planning decision it makes must be ratified by the Infrastructure Services Committee.

Developers Scotia Homes and Kirkwood Homes Ltd are vying to change the landscape at separate ends of the town with extensive development plans.
Other developers include Aber-deenshire Council with three small sites, CKD Galbraith, south of the river and Stewart Milne.
Kirkwood Homes, for example, is hoping to build 1,500 homes in the North of the town.

Managing director, Colin Crombie
said: "Over the course of the last two years Kirkwood Homes Ltd have sought
to engage fully with local residents, business groups and all those with an interest in the sustainable growth of Ellon - regarding the key aspects of our mixed use masterplan for the Cassiegills development (Northern Expansion) to ensure that local people have a clear say in the proposed developments within their community."

"Throughout this process we have received positive and encouraging feedback from all those involved in the consultation process, and have been extremely impressed by the level of participation from the local community in Ellon and indeed to the supportive and pragmatic comments received, allowing us to develop an enhanced Masterplan which meets the needs and aspirations of the community," he said.

Mr Crombie believes that, whilst the masterplan to the North of Ellon provides many benefits including new homes, land for a new business park, new community facilities, proposals for a community energy project and the expansion of the local golf club - they are fully aware that the proposals would ensure compatibility with other developments such as Knockothie.

He continued: "We are also fully aware that there is a clear need to protect and assist the vitality, viability and vibrancy of the town centre - one which we fully believe would be delivered through
expansion to the North of Ellon and that the plans put forward by Kirkwood could also crucially assist with traffic management and pedestrian access along the current bypass, which we have been informed is a key concern for local residents," he said.

"My colleagues and I, along with the local community, await with interest the outcome of next week's Area Committee and hope that the merits of the Northern Expansion of Ellon are fully debated."