Issue - meetings

The Local Review Body then considered a second request for a review to evaluate the decision taken by an appointed officer under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to refuse the application for the erection of a dwellinghouse with associated infrastructure and landscaping, at land to the north of Brookden, 181993.

The Chairperson advised that the LRB would again be addressed by Mr Gavin Evans and reminded Members that although Mr Evans was employed by the planning authority he had not been involved in any way with the consideration or determination of the application under review and was present to provide factual information and guidance to the Body only.  She emphasised that the officer would not be asked to express any view on the proposed application.

In relation to the application, the LRB had before it (1) a delegated report by Mr Jamie Leadbeater, Planner (2) the application dated 22 November 2018; (3) the decision notice dated 22 January 2019 (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the applicant and (6) consultee comments.

The LRB was then addressed by Mr Evans who advised that the review had been submitted with all necessary information within the time limit of three months following the decision of the appointed officer.

Mr Evans then described the site advising that the application sought Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) for the erection of a new detached dwellinghouse with associated infrastructure and landscaping.   A tree survey accompanying the application recommended the removal of 36 individual trees for reasons of good arboricultural management and Mr Evans advised there were no trees present on the indicative site of the dwelling, however detailed consideration of impacts could be undertaken on assessment of MSC applications.

Mr Evans also advised that the application site extended to approximately 0.8ha and was located on the east side of Murtle Den Road, a private road which branched off north from North Deeside Road, between established settlements at Bieldside and Milltimber.  Murtle Den Road was an attractive tree-lined avenue of approximately 800m, which offered no through route and provided access to approximately 13 properties. The houses accessed via Murtle Den Road were generally large detached dwellings, set within generous plots. The current application site sits approximately 400m along this private road, to the north of an existing dwelling at Brookden and south of the large plot of Pinelands.  Murtle Dam was located to the west of Murtle Den Road, and sits within 20m to the North East of the current application site. The site, which slopes steeply from West to East, was an area of grassland, with mature trees around its perimeter, with particularly strong tree belts along the western and southern boundaries.  To the west of Murtle Den Road there was an area of 49ha which was allocated for development through the 2017 Aberdeen Local Development Plan. The OP48 allocation identified an opportunity for the development of 550 homes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2