Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this meeting can be viewed here

Members, please note that the relevant plans can be viewed online:-

https://publicaccess.aberdeencity.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=P0ZYGWBZHX100

The Local Review Body (LRB) 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 permission for the erection of a 1.5 storey garage with storage space at upper level at 83 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen, Planning Reference 171486.

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

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 LRB only.  She emphasised that the officer would not be asked to express any view on the proposed application.

The LRB was then addressed by Mrs Dunsmuir, 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 LRB had before it (1) a report of handling by Mr Gavin Clark, Senior Planner; (2) the decision notice dated 16 April 2018; (3) links to plans showing the proposal; (4) links to planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) a letter of support in relation to the application; and (6) the Notice of Review submitted by the applicant’s agent along with an accompanying statement, documents and initial planning application.

In respect of the review, Mr Evans advised that he had checked the submitted Notice of Review and had found it to be valid and submitted within the relevant timeframes.

Mr Evans advised that the site under consideration was a residential plot, incorporating a two storey mid-terrace property of granite character, along with associated garden grounds and outbuildings.  The building lay within the Albyn Place / Rubislaw Conservation Area but was not listed.  The property faced onto Blenheim Place, with a rear lane running along the foot of the back garden which served properties on Blenheim Place to the west side, and Fountainhall Road to the east.  Mr Evans explained that the rear garden was enclosed by boundary walls of around 1.8 metres in height, and included an existing pitched roof garage, sited in the north-western corner of the garden, which opened directly onto the lane.  The western boundary onto the lane also included painted timber gates.  Mr Evans advised that the rear lane was characterised by the presence of many such garages, which varied in design, scale, age and materials.

Mr Evans explained that the planning application subject to review sought permission for the construction of a new, larger garage on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

Members, please note that the relevant plans can be viewed online:-

https://publicaccess.aberdeencity.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=P6RD5PBZKJC00

The LRB then considered a second request for a review of the decision taken by an appointed officer under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to refuse the request for planning permission for the erection of 4 residential flats with associated landscaping at the land to the rear of 44/46 Bedford Road, Aberdeen, Planning Reference 180555.

The Chairperson advised that the LRB would be addressed by Mr Robert Forbes who would be acting as the Planning Adviser to the Body in the case under consideration.

The Chairperson again highlighted 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 LRB 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 Gavin Clark, Senior Planner; (2) the decision notice dated 5 June 2018; (3) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning notices referred to in the delegated report; (4) six letters of representation; and (5) the application and Notice of Review submitted by the applicant along with an accompanying statement with further information relating to the application.

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

Mr Forbes described the site in question, noting that the application in question was on the eastern side of Bedford Road, at its junction with Bedford Place, extending to approximately 332sqm and represented the existing curtilage of 44/46 Bedford Road, comprising a 2½ storey end-terrace building of traditional granite construction, which incorporated a small newsagent/grocer at ground floor level and box-dormers in its roof space.  To the rear of the building was an area of garden ground, set approximately 1m below the level of Bedford Place and enclosed by a granite rubble boundary wall measuring 1.2m from pavement level.  The rear garden contained no notable trees or landscaping, beyond overgrown shrubs and small trees.  The southern boundary to the adjoining property at 42 Bedford Road was defined by a brick boundary wall of approximately 1.2m.  The northern side of Bedford Place was characterised by 1½ storey, mansard roofed terraces of dwellinghouse and immediately opposite the application site was a row of 2-storey terraced houses, fronted with synthetic granite block; as well as a single 1½ more traditionally styled detached granite dwellinghouse. The southern side of Bedford Place was largely similar; however 2½ storey tenement-style blocks were present at the junctions of Bedford Place and streets running south-west. The blank gable of one such block abutted the south-eastern end of the application site.

Mr Forbes highlighted previous planning history in respect of the site, and displayed detail of the previous application to illustrate the differences that had been made between it and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.