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=4152&Ver=4

Members, please access all relevant plans at the following link: http://planning.aberdeencity.gov.uk/docs/planningdocuments.asp?appnumber=151542

With reference to article 1 of the minute of the meeting of the Local Review Body of 3 February 2016, the Local Review Body of Aberdeen City Council reconvened on 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 proposed erection of  a 1.5 storey extension to side and rear of existingdwellinghouse, formation of new vehicular access and retrospective change of use of agricultural land to private garden ground at Foggie Cottage, Baillieswells Road, Bieldside (P151542).

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 Swanson, as regards the procedure to be followed and also, thereafter, by
Ms Lucy Greene, 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 she 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 Mrs Swanson, 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.

In relation to the application, the Local Review Body had before it (1) a delegated report by Mr Alex Ferguson, Planning Officer, dated 23 November 2015; (2) the decision notice dated 27 November 2015; (3) plans showing the proposal; (4) planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the applicant’s agent along with an accompanying statement; and (6) representations received in respect of the proposal.

In relation to the site and existing building, the delegated report stated that at present the site had a single storey detached dwellinghouse on the western side of Baillieswells Road, approximately 800m northwest of the suburban northern side of Bieldside. Foggie Cottage sat to the west of Baillieswells Road and immediately to the south of a small access road that serves two other residential properties situated approximately 130m to the west. Agricultural farmland surrounds Foggie Cottage’s southern and western boundaries.

The application site encompassed the full 700sqm curtilage of Foggie Cottage as well as a surrounding buffer of land to the south and west which has at some stage in recent years been incorporated into the residential curtilage of Foggie Cottage, without receiving consent for change of use. The additional area of land which had been incorporated into the garden ground of the property equates to circa 820sqm, giving the application site a footprint of approximately 1520sqm.

The single storey cottage  ...  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 now be addressed by Mr Nicholas Lawrence and reminded members that Mr Lawrence 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.  Mr Lawrence would not be asked to express any view on the proposed application.

In relation to the application, the Local Review Body had before it (1) a delegated report by Ms Hannah Readman, Planning Officer, dated 18 December 2015; (2) the decision notice dated 18 December 2015; (3) plans showing the proposal; (4) planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the applicant’s agent along with an accompanying statement; and (6) a representation received in respect of the proposal.

With regards to the site, the delegated report advised that the application related to a single storey building located on the south side of Seaforth Road, at its junction with Urquhart Lane to the east. The building was currently vacant but had most recently been used as a storage shed for a plumbing business. The surrounding area was designated for residential use within the Local Development Plan.

The report advised that the planning application sought permission for the redevelopment of the site with a block containing eight, 2 bedroom flats set over 4 floors. The building would measure approximately 15.8m in width, 12.4m in depth and 11.5m in height. It would be of a modern design, with a flat roof and ‘juliet’ balconies to all windows on the first to third floors. Finishes would include a dark grey membrane roof, grey synthetic granite to the ground floor, smooth white render to the middle floors, grey zinc effect cladding panels to the top floor and all windows would be grey uPVC framed. A boundary wall, to be finished with a smooth white render and a concrete cope stone, pillars to a height of 2.3m and the connecting wall of 0.9m with atop 0.9m black mild steel railings. Also proposed were: 8 cycle lockers, 11 car parking spaces, 1 motor cycle parking space and a communal bin store located to the east of the site off Urquhart Lane.

In relation to planning policies which the Members of the Local Review Body should consider, the delegated report outlined that all the following documents were accessible via web links, and available as set out in the papers:-

Development Plan – Aberdeen Local Development Plan (2012):

H1 - Residential Areas

Within existing residential area, proposals for new residential development will be approved in principle if it:

1. Does not constitute over development;
2. Does not have an adverse impact on the character or amenity of the surrounding area;
3. Does not result in the loss of valuable and valued areas of open space.

H5 – Affordable Housing

Housing developments of five units or more are required  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.