Agenda and minutes

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

The Local Review Body (LRB) 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 permission for the formation of dormers to the front and rear of 6 Hammerfield Avenue Aberdeen, 200295/DPP.

Councillor Boulton as Chair, gave a brief outline of the business to be undertaken, advising that the LRB would be addressed by the Assistant Clerk, Mrs Lynsey McBain with regards to 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 cases 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.  She 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, Assistant Clerk in regard to the procedure to be followed, at which time reference was made to the procedure note circulated with the papers calling the meeting and to more general aspects relating to the procedure.

In relation to the application, the LRB had before it (1) a delegated report by Roy Brown, Planner; (2) the application dated 18 January 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 8 June  2020; (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; and (5) the 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 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 site was located on the south-western side of Hammerfield Avenue between its junctions with Great Western Road (to the north) and Duthie Place (to the south).  The site comprised a two-storey semi-detached house of a traditional granite construction, along with its associated front and rear gardens.  The property adjoins number 4 to the north.  Hammerfield Avenue included a mix of two-storey semi-detached and 1 and ½ storey detached and semi-detached homes, some of which feature a white wetdash render finish.  Mr Evans explained that neither number 6 nor the adjoining number 4 appear to have been significantly altered at roof level, with no dormer windows present at the front or rear.  It was also noted there were two existing rooflights on both front and rear slopes of number 6’s roof.

Mr Evans advised that the application site was located in an area which the Aberdeen Local Development Plan identified as a Residential Area, where policy H1 would apply.  The site also sat just outside  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Local Review Body then considered the 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 detailed planning permission the erection of a single storey extension to the side at 4 Deemount Road Aberdeen, 200440. 

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 Local Review 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 Jamie Leadbeater, Planner; (2) the application dated 3 April 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 1 July 2020 (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; and (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the agent along with an accompanying statement.

The Local Review Body then heard from Mr Evans, who explained 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 and advised that the property was located on the southern side of Deemount Road on the western side of its junction with Deemount Gardens.  The site was a residential curtilage which comprised a detached L-shaped bungalow along with associated garden grounds.  The property is described as being designed with dual frontages, facing onto both Deemount Road and Deemount Gardens.  The white rendered property had both pitched and hipped roof elements, with the roof finished in red roof tiles.

The application site was located in an area which the Aberdeen Local Development Plan identifies as a Residential Area, where H1 applies.  The site also lies immediately to the east of but outside, the Ferryhill Conservation Area. 

In regard to the proposal, Mr Evans explained planning permission was sought for the erection of a single-storey, flat roofed extension of a contemporary design to the front/side of the dwellinghouse.  This would measure approximately 5.4metres by 5.8metres with a height of 3.7metres.  The extension would be finished in grey vertical timber cladding, with a smooth grey cement basecourse.  The north and south elevations would feature large windows with a horizontal emphasis.

Mr Evans outlined the appointed Officer’s reasons for refusal as follows:-

·        The proposal would not respect the character and appearance of the existing dwellinghouse, as well as the character and appearance of other dwellinghouses in the immediate surrounding area.  Siting, projection, disproportioned contemporary form, large window openings and finishes were cited as contributing factors;

·        The impact would be exacerbated by extension’s siting forward of the building line to Deemount Gardens and its prominent location at the junction of Deemount  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.