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Ellon is the largest settlement in Formartine area. It was the main settlement of the Pictish province of Buchan before 400 BC. The town owes its prominence to the River Ythan where it acted as the principal ford crossing on the road from Aberdeen to Peterhead. Up to the mid-1930s cargo vessels on the Ythan between Ellon and Newburgh transported coal and lime upstream and grain downstream.
With the discovery of oil, Ellon has expanded rapidly over the last two decades and has developed a modern infrastructure for business development and its expanding population. To protect the natural beauty and preserve amenity value of the river, the Ythan Amenity Trust, now developed into the Ellon Biodiversity Action Group, was formed in 1980. Walkways and environmental management schemes have been established by the Trust and the local authority.
As part of the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership which brings together Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Communities Scotland, business and local community, a strategy has been prepared for Ellon, to target the local economy, community issues and the environment.
Population
2001 (Forecast) 2006
Population 8,757 9,758
Source: General Register Office for Scotland data and Council forecast
Land Development
Housing
Housing Stock 1991 2001 Change
No. of Units 3,258 3,558 +9%
Past Completions 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
No. of Units 30 31 7 73 142
Over the past five years, 283 additional dwellings have been built in Ellon. The build rate has increased considerably over the last two years as the large site (628 units in total) at Knockothie to the north of the settlement got underway. In addition, there have been a number of other smaller developments on brownfield sites within the settlement itself.
Future Completions 2003 2004 2005 2006
No. of Units 151 119 111 82
There is residual capacity on sites zoned for housing for an additional 472 units, of which 447 have planning permission. There is planning permission for a further 72 units on other sites. Housing land is mainly located at Knockothie.
Source: Housing Schedules, Aberdeenshire Council
Industry
Industrial Land 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Past Take-Up (Hectares) 0.24 3.04 0.58 0.28 0.00
18.64 hectares of land zoned for industrial or business activity remains undeveloped. All this land is marketable, but only 1.95 hectares are serviced. This land is located to the east of the town at Castle Park, and Balmacassie/Knockothie.
Source: Employment Land Audit, Aberdeenshire Council
Labour Market
Main Employers
Company/Organisation Activity
Barratt Construction Ltd Construction
Aberdeenshire Council Local Government Services
Safeway Stores Plc Supermarket Retailing
The Samamat Care Group Ltd
(Auchtercrag Nursing Home) Nursing Home Services
Sulzer Wood Ltd Pump Engineering
New Inn Hotel Hotel and Restaurant
Duotool Ltd Hardware Wholesale
Costcutter Supermarket Supermarket Retailing
Burnett Building Services Ltd Building Contractor
Caledonia Homes Construction
Bredero Price Coaters Ltd Pipe Coating Services
Bruce and Partners Ltd Estate Agency
Lawrence Milne & Sons Painting and Decorating
Definition based on more than 40 employees.
Source: Various
Employment
Employees in Employment
by Sector Ellon* Aberdeenshire
% of
Total No. % of
Total
Agriculture/Fishing 0.1 1,954 2.6
Energy/Water 4.9 1,856 2.5
Manufacturing 1.8 11,607 15.5
Construction 3.2 6,566 8.8
Distribution/Hotels/Restaurants 4.0 19,114 25.5
Transport/Communications 0.4 3,193 4.3
Banking/Insurance/Finance etc 14.8 8,267 11.0
Public Admin/Education/Health 34.8 18,364 24.5
Other Services 4.7 3,934 5.3
Total 100.0 74,854 100.0
* Ellon defined as former district ward Ellon. Data from agriculture class 0100 (1992 SIC) excluded from ward analysis.
Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2002, Office for National Statistics (NOMIS)
Unemployment
Male Female Total Rate
Ellon* 20 7 27 1.0%
Aberdeenshire 1,646 565 2,211 1.6%
Scotland 82,078 23,850 105,928 3.4%
* Ellon defined as former district ward Ellon. Ward rate is estimated. Unemployment as at January 2004.
Source: Office for National Statistics (NOMIS)
Travel to Work
Workplace of Ellon Residents No. % of Total
Ellon* 1,090 27.3
Aberdeen City 1,990 49.9
Rest of North East Scotland 560 14.0
Other (eg no fixed workplace/offshore) 350 8.8
Total 3,990 100.0
* Ellon defined as Postcode Sector AB41.9
Source: 1991 Census (Travel to Work data from the 2001 Census will be available later this year)
Updated March 2004.
Source: Aberdeenshire Council Statistics 2003/4.
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