1

From mountain to sea

Re

p Marr

Administrative Area Profile

January 2019

A Publication by the Planning Information and Delivery TeamA

What’s happening in…

What’s happening in … Marr

2

Marr Profile

January 2019

Population

In 2017 the population of Marr was 39,041. Between 2012 and 2017 its population

increased by 720 people or 1.9% and its share of Aberdeenshire’s population declined

slightly from 15.0% to 14.9%. Its population increased for the first half of the time period but

decreased after that. Aberdeenshire’s overall population fell in 2017 by 0.1% but had

increased over this time period until then.

Annual Population Change

-1.0%

-0.5%

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Marr Aberdeenshire

Marr is one of six administrative areas in

Aberdeenshire. It covers 2,942 sq km (1,136

square miles), which is just under 50% of the

council area, making this the largest

administrative area in Aberdeenshire. It is,

however, the least densely populated of the

areas and the most rural, containing part of

the Cairngorms National Park. Its largest

town is Banchory and its economy is largely

based on tourism and agriculture.

What’s happening in … Marr

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Age Structure 2017

This graph shows the share of the total population of each year age group for Marr and for

Aberdeenshire. Marr’s population is proportionately older than Aberdeenshire’s with a

greater proportion of people aged over 50 and a smaller proportion of people aged between

23 and 43. Almost 25% of Aberdeenshire’s population of people aged 90 and above, live in

Marr.

Source: National Records of Scotland 2017 Mid-year Population Estimates

Settlements

The largest settlement in Marr is Banchory with a population of just over 7,500 people. It has another seven towns that have populations greater than 500 and 56% of its population live in these. Only 32% of Marr’s population live in communities of over 3000 people.

2016 2006 2006-16

% Change

Aboyne 2,910 2,180 33.5

Alford 2,520 2,050 22.9

Ballater 1,460 1,520 -3.9

Banchory 7,560 6,520 16.0

Huntly 4,810 4,400 9.3

Torphins 1,410 1,250 12.8

Lumphanan 550 550 0.0

Tarland 720 580 24.1

Source: National Records of Scotland, Mid-year Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities

0.0%

0.2%

0.4%

0.6%

0.8%

1.0%

1.2%

1.4%

1.6%

1.8%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90+

Aberdeenshire Marr

What’s happening in … Marr

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Economy

Marr’s economy supports 11,985 jobs, not including self-employment. 25% of these jobs fall into the public administration, education and health sector which, as in Aberdeenshire overall, employs the greatest number of people. In Marr, this sector, together with the distribution, hotels and restaurant sector, accounts for half of all jobs. The structure of employment in Marr differs from that of Aberdeenshire overall in that it has proportionately more jobs in the distribution, hotels and restaurant sector and the banking, finance and insurance sector, and almost none in the energy and water sector.

Source: Business Register and Employment Survey 2017

Unemployment

The claimant count rate in Marr is low, averaging 0.8% over the last five years, and has consistently been less than the overall Aberdeenshire rate.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Other services

Transport & Communication

Public admin, education & health

Manufacturing

Energy & Water

Distribution, hotels & restaurants

Construction

Banking, finance & insurance

Agriculture & Fishing

% all jobs

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Claimant count rates

Marr Aberdeenshire

What’s happening in … Marr

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Housing

Housing Stock

Marr’s housing stock increased by 20% between 2007 and 2017,

above the Aberdeenshire average of 18%. However, the actual

number of new houses built is relatively low compared to most of

the other areas of Aberdeenshire. The majority of new development

has taken place in recent years in the towns of Alford, Banchory

and Aboyne.

New house building over the next five years from 2018 to 2022 is projected to increase slightly, mostly in the same three towns of Alford, Banchory and Aboyne.

Average House Prices

In 2016 the average house price in Marr was £246,469, this was 13% higher than the

average Aberdeenshire house price of £217,832.

15,004

17,997

2007 2017

0

50

100

150

200

250

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Marr New House Build - past and projected figures

0 500 1000 1500 2000

B&B

Buchan

Formartine

Garioch

K&M

Marr

Number of New Houses

House Building in Aberdeenshire by Administrative Areas

2013-2017

0 500 1000 1500 2000

B&B

Buchan

Formartine

Garioch

K&M

Marr

Number of New Houses

Projected House Building in Aberdeenshire by Administrative

Areas 2018-2022

What’s happening in … Marr

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Serving Marr

Marr Area Committee Marr area committee is composed of three multi-member wards: Huntly, Strathbogie and the

Howe of Alford; Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside; and Banchory and Mid-Deeside.

Politically, this area is overseen by 10 councillors: 4 Conservative, 3 SNP and 3 Scottish

Liberal Democrats. The current area chair is Moira Ingleby (Con) and the vice-chair is John

Latham (Scot Lib Dem).

Community Planning

The Marr Community Planning Group (MCPG) consists of members from a wide range of

local and Aberdeenshire-wide partner organisations and public sector organisations working

together to achieve the best quality of life for Marr’s inhabitants. The Marr Local Community

Plan 2016-2019 outlines the key priorities for the area and more information about it and the

MCPG can be found on the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership website.

Publicly owned facilities and services

Marr 2018

Primary Schools 33

Secondary Schools 4

Community Centres 4

Public Libraries 5

GP Surgeries 8

Leisure Centres and Swimming Pools 4

Police Stations 6

Fire Stations 8

Sources: Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

For further information about this publication please contact one of our Research and Information Officers at statistics@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or on 01467 536230

SNP30%

Conservative40%

Scottish Lib Dem

30%