Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=284&MId=2954&Ver=4

The Local Review Body of Aberdeen City Council met this day to review the decision taken by an appointed officer under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to refuse the request for planning permissions for the extension of an existing office to provide additional office and support accommodation at 6 Albert Street (ref 140714).

Councillor Milne, as Chairperson, gave a brief outline of the business to be undertaken.  He indicated that the Local Review Body would be addressed by the Assistant Clerk, Mrs Dunsmuir, as regards the procedure to be followed and also, thereafter, by Mr Gavin Evans, who would be acting as the Planning Adviser to the Body in the case under consideration this day.

The Chairperson stated that although the Planning Adviser 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.  He emphasised that the officer would not be asked to express any view on the proposed application.

The Local Review Body was then addressed by the Assistant Clerk as regards the procedure to be followed, at which time reference was made to the procedure note circulated with the papers calling the meeting and to certain more general aspects relating to the procedure.

Mr Evans explained that the application which was the subject of the review was for an extension to the existing office accommodation at 6 Albert Street.  Mr Evans explained that he had checked the submitted Notice of Review and found it to be valid and submitted within the relevant timeframes.  He added that the applicant had asked that the LRB request further written submissions to be made and a further hearing session organised.

Mr Evans explained that the application related to the extension to an existing office at 6 Albert Street.  The site was located at the west end of Union Street, and was a Category B listed building, while also being designated as a group Category A listing with other properties within Albert Street.  The site also sat within the Albyn Place / Rubislaw Conservation Area.  The building consisted of granite walls and a natural slate roof, and was single storey in height with both attic and basement levels.  The building fronted onto Albert Street, and its rear elevation could be seen from Albert Walk, a lane to the rear of the site.  Mr Evans explained that planning permission was now sought for an extension to the rear of the building, consisting of accommodation over three levels.  At its widest point, the extension would measure approximately 5x6 metres at basement level.  The ground floor was to be linked with a glazed corridor over two floors, measuring 2.5m long by 2.1 m wide.  The main extension would be 6.6m wide by 14.9m long (at the ground floor level), while at first floor level there was to be an office extension projecting from the link extension which would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Local Review Body then considered the second request for a review.  The Chairperson advised that the LRB would be addressed by Ms Lucy Greene and reminded members that Ms Greene 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.  Ms Greene would not be asked to express any view on the proposed application.

Ms Greene explained that the application which was the subject of the review was for the removal of Condition 1 (Control of Occupancy) from Planning Permission P120873 in relation to Baads Farm, Peterculter.  Ms Greene advised that she had checked the submitted Notice of Review and had found it to be valid and submitted within the relevant timeframes.

She explained that the application related to a site located in the countryside some 3.5km to the north west of Peterculter.  The site comprised unused agricultural land and was located to the east of Hillcrest Courtyard.  Access to the site was via a 350m long single track private road which served seven houses and an agricultural shed.  Ms Greene advised that an application for planning permission (140187) was refused under delegated powers in March 2014 for the removal of Condition 1 from planning permission 120873, and noted that the current application (141149) related to the same proposal, but included further justification from the applicant’s solicitor and chartered surveyor.  Ms Greene explained that planning permission (110648) was approved by the Planning Committee against officer recommendation in October 2011 for the erection of a residential dwelling, garage and associated stud farm.  Conditions had been applied to the permission, namely:- restricting the occupancy of the house to a person employed full time in the stud farm business and the dependents, widow or widower of such a person; conditioning the phasing of the development to ensure that the stables and associated infrastructure were constructed and available for use prior to the commencement of the house and garage; the restriction of the hours of construction; the requirement for the submission of schemes of all external lighting and drainage/sewage facilities; the submission of samples of all external finishing materials and the provision of landscaping and tree planting on the site.  Ms Greene explained that the construction of the stud farm had been the main reason behind the Planning Committee approving the application, noting that the proposed house was only considered to be acceptable by the Committee due to the requirement for employee accommodation relating to the stud farm.

Ms Greene explained that there had been an objection to the proposal from Culter Community Council which stated that the proposal would be contrary to the Green Belt policies within Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), as well as Policy NE2 (Green Belt) of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan.  The letter also raised concerns about the use of sections of SPP which were aimed at rural areas outside of Green Belts, as well as the proposal being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.