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 application for the erection of a dog boarding kennels and office space with associated solar panels, fencing and car parking and other associated works at Oldtown Farm, Station Road Aberdeen, 191717/DPP.

Councillor Stewart 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 following 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.  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 the Appointed Officer, Aberdeen City Council; (2) an application dated 14 November 2019; (3) the decision notice dated 13 August 2020; (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the applicant and (6) comments received from consultees. 

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 Oldtown Farm was an existing farm complex which comprised a substantial two-storey granite and slate farmhouse, a pair of semi-detached one and a half storey dwellings, a converted bothy, and various large agricultural buildings all set around an informal area of hardstanding and surrounded by agricultural land, to the north, south, east and west. 

The farm was set in a rural location in the Green Belt and accessed via a narrow single-track road. The Peterculter Golf Club course runs to the east of the farm, although separated by fields, with the club house and parking area located to the north east of the farm steading. The town of Peterculter is approximately one mile to the north.

The application site comprises a rectangular area of grass field extending to some 1309m², delineated by means of a post and wire fence, and forming the south-east corner of a larger field in agricultural use which extends to some 2.4ha. 

In  ...  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 for the erection of a 1.5 storey extension to the rear, at 30 West Mount Street Aberdeen, 200502/DPP.

The Chairperson advised that the LRB would again be addressed by Mr 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 Body only.  She emphasised that the officer would not be asked to express any view on the proposed application.

Mr Evans advised that in relation to the application, the LRB had before it (1) a delegated report by the Appointed Officer, Aberdeen City Council; (2) an application dated 24 April 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 17 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.  

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 advisingthat the site comprised a late 19^th century granite-built 1½ storey mid-terraced dwelling and its front and rear curtilage in a residential area. The dwelling had a southeast facing principal elevation that fronts West Mount Street. To its rear, it has an original single storey annexe projecting along its northeast boundary and a later single storey extension along its southwest boundary. The dwelling adjoins 28 West Mount Street to the northeast and 40 View Terrace to the southwest. The application site is also located in the Rosemount and Westburn Conservation Area.  A shared access, serving the terrace, runs along the rear boundary, entered from View Terrace to the west.

In regards to the proposal, Mr Evans explained thatplanning permission was sought for the erection of a 1½ storey extension to the (northwest) rear of the dwelling. The extension would comprise two elements:

·       A flat roofed single storey element that would be flat roofed in form, have a height of c.3.1m, be 3.8m in width, and would project c.5.5m to the rear of the dwelling along the east boundary.

·       A pitched roofed two-storey element that would be 2.8m in width, have eaves heights of c.5.5m and a ridge height of c.6.3m. It would project c.5.5m along the west boundary.

The walls of the extension would be finished in timber cladding on its northwest (rear) and northeast elevations and render on its southwest elevation. It would have grey uPVC framed windows and sliding doors; the pitched roof would be finished in slate; and the flat roof would be finished in rubber roofing. The materials of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.