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 a driveway to the front of the dwellinghouse, at 16 Don Terrace Aberdeen, 200036/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 Jamie Leadbeater, Planner; (2) the application dated 18 January 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 17 March 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 also noted that the applicant had indicated no new matters had been raised however he provided correspondence with his local Councillor in regard to vandalism in the area, which did not form part of the earlier application.  Mr Evans indicated that it was for the Local Review Body to decide whether this information is taken in account when determining the application.  Members agreed unanimously that the information should not be taken into account, as this would have been available previously and could have been submitted with the original application. 

Mr Evans then described the site advising that the application site was located on the southern side of Don Terrace, and occupied by a detached 1 ½  storey granite building of a traditional style.  The house was elevated approximately 1.1m above street level. The garden ground sits at the same level as the house, and was retained by a granite boundary walls to the street frontage (1m-1.3m high), topped with metal railings and gate.   Mr Evans also noted there were single  ...  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 the formation of dormer windows to the existing first floor extension, replacement of conservatory, installation of replacement rooflights and a dormer to the rear of 3 Osborne Place Aberdeen, 200445. 

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 Alex Ferguson, Planner; (2) the application dated 4 April 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 11 May 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 as located on the southern side of Osborne Place, approximately 20m to the west of its junction with Albert Street and comprised a 1½ storey traditional mid-terraced dwellinghouse with associated garden grounds.

Mr Evans noted that historic maps appeared to indicate that the granite-walled, slate pitch-roofed terrace was constructed at some point in the late 19th Century. The terrace was not listed, but it does lie within the Albyn Place / Rubislaw Conservation Area.

The dwelling had a built footprint of approximately 110sqm, including a 28sqm single-storey lean-to extension along the mutual western boundary (which is either original or an addition from the early 20th Century) and a 20sqm modern (late 20th Century) conservatory which runs along the eastern mutual boundary. Both extensions project approximately 7.5m out from the rear elevation of the original dwellinghouse and the historic single storey rear extension incorporated a modern cat-slide dormer whilst the rear roof slope of the original dwelling incorporated a modern pitch-roofed dormer and two rooflights.

Mr Evans advised that the property had a circa 240sqm, 35m long rear garden area, which included a 67.5sqm detached garage at the southern end, facing onto Albert Lane. The application site lies within a residential area and is bound to the east and west by neighbouring terraced dwellings.

In regard to the proposal, Mr Evans explained that planning permission was sought for the enlargement and alteration of an existing rear extension in order to provide accommodation across 2 floors and this would involve the removal of an existing rear conservatory,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The Local Review Body then considered the third 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 the erection of two class 1 retails units, at land to the east of Ikea, Wellington Circle Aberdeen, 191588/DPP.       

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 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 Gavin Clark, Senior Planner; (2) the application dated 18 October 2019; (3) the decision notice dated 24 March 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 applicants agent along with an accompanying statement and (6) a letter of representation received.  Mr Evans advised that an objection was received from Nigg Community Council but was not submitted within the correct timeframe so was not accepted.  

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 noted that the application site lay to the west of Wellington Road, between Wellington Circle and an existing car park which serves IKEA, Makro, PureGym and Starbucks and the site was presently an area of landscaping that bounded the southern edge of the IKEA car park, and sits between the IKEA and Starbucks units when seen from the adjoining part of Wellington Circle. The car park is accessed from its north-eastern corner, directly opposite the Shell service station.

Mr Evans explained that the street view images that he displayed dated from March 2019  and they showed that the landscaping was not mature at that time, having been planted in connection with the development of the Starbucks immediately to the east.  The surrounding area featured a mix of commercial uses, including the IKEA and Makro retail offerings, Starbucks (inc drive-thru service), a PureGym, a Shell petrol filling station, Royal Mail depot, Burger King restaurant with drive-thru facility, and office and industrial uses.

Mr Evans highlighted that the site falls within an area zoned in the Aberdeen Local Development Plan as Business and Industrial Land, where policy B1 applies, promoting office and industrial uses, however the site is also identified within an Opportunity Site, which provides support for change of use to retail use.

In regard to the proposal, Mr Evans explained that planning permission was sought for detailed planning permission for the erection of a single  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.