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=4249&Ver=4

The Local Review Body of Aberdeen City Council met 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 replacement garage to the rear of the property at 27 Watson Street Aberdeen, reference number 151934.

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 Lynsey McBain as regards the procedure to be followed and also ,thereafter, by Mr Robert Forbes 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 hehad 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 McBain 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 Ms Jacqui Thain, Planning Technician, dated 22 March 2016; (2) the decision notice dated 29 March 2016; (3) links to the plans showing the proposal; (4) links to the 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) link to an additional planning policy referred to by the Planning Adviser.

The LRB was then addressed by Ms Greene who advised that the submitted Notice of Review was found to be valid and submitted within the relevant timeframes.

Mr Robert Forbes advised that the application dwelling was a traditional, mid-terraced property with long and narrow rear garden that backs onto Thomson Street Lane and at the far end of the rear garden, at the south-west corner of the plot, there is a single garage that measures approximately 16 square metres, which is constructed of brick with render to two sides, timber doors and slate roof that is in a state of disrepair.  Mr Forbes explained that in regards to the proposal, the existing garage would be removed as would the adjacent rubble boundary wall on the lane.  The proposed garage would span the width of the plot approximately 7.35m and would measure 7.4m long x 6.65m high to the top of the pitched roof.  At ground level there would be a pedestrian access door to the front and rear, a window facing the garden and a vehicle access door onto the lane.  At first floor level, there would be one window on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Local Review Body then considered the second and third requests for review to straighten the roof hip, side and rear extension and dormer extension at 182 and 184 North Deeisde Road Aberdeen.  The two applications were considered together as the applications were very similar and were semi detached properties.

The Chairperson advised that the LRB would now be addressed by Ms Lucy Greene and stated that although the Planning Adviser was employed by the planning authority shehad not been involved in any way with the consideration or determination of the applications 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 Local Review Body had before it (1) two delegated reports by Mr Ross McMahon, Trainee Planner; (2) the decision notices both dated 1 April 2016; (3) plans showing the proposals; (4) links to the planning policies referred to in the delegated report; and (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the applicant’s agent along with an accompanying statement.

Ms Greene advised that the submitted Notice of Review was found to be valid and submitted within the relevant timeframes.

Ms Greene provided a summary of the applications and advised that the application comprised a traditional semi-detached property of slate and granite construction, set on the boundary of an established residential area forming part of Milltimber.  The dwellings sits approximately 32m to the north of North Deeside Road in an elevated position and they both feature a hipped roof, chimney stack, pink granite frontage and projecting front gable with a bay window beneath.  The site also lies within a Residential Area as identified in the adopted Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2012.

In regards to consultees and letters of representation, Ms Greene advised that for property 182, two letters of support had been received and one for 184.  There were no comments received from statutory consultees.

The Grounds of Appeal Statement which accompanied the Notice of Review advised that (a) they did not feel that the dormer would appear dominant and the prescriptive criteria of the Council’s Householder Development Guide had been adhered to, (b) any impact, would be marginal and the design is similar to that of the extended adjacent dwellings, which would result in an enhancement of the street scene in terms of consistency and respect the character and setting of the wider area and (c) the dormer on the front elevation will appear subservient to the main features of the dwelling, retaining the projecting gable, well balanced fenestration and sitting below the ridge height.

The delegated report advised that the stated reasons for refusal for both properties of planning permission were as follows:-

the proposal does not fully comply with the relevant policies of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2012, namely Policies D1 (Architecture and Placemaking), H1 (Residential Areas) and the associated Supplementary Guidance: Householder Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.