Agenda and minutes

The agenda, reports and recording 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 1.5 storey detached domestic garage at 275 North Deeside Road, planning reference 200544.

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) the application dated 8 May 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 17 November 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.

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 side of North Deeside Road, Milltimber, at its junction with Station Road East, and extends to an area of some 4130m².  The site comprised a 2 storey, detached dwelling house with single integral garage.  The dwelling house is centrally located within the plot, with quite extensive garden ground to the front, side and rear, and was well screened by mature trees, all of which are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO No 225).   A drive provides access off North Deeside Road, splitting in two as it extends south within the site, with the eastern section delivering a route to the rear entrance to the dwelling and an area of hardstanding, whilst the western section provides a route to the front of the property with access to the existing integral garage, and a further area of hardstanding.  To the south east of the dwelling and running parallel at a distance of some 8 metres from the eastern boundary of the site, lies an overgrown path  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

At this juncture, Councillor Boulton replaced Councillor Stewart as Chairperson to consider the remaining two reviews and Councillor Bell replaced Councillor Macdonald.

The LRB 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 a pitched root to an existing garage to form a store and single storey workshop at 2 Gladstone Place Aberdeen, planning reference 200557. 

Councillor Boulton as Chair, advised that Mr Gavin Evans would again be acting as the Planning Adviser to the Body in the following case under consideration this day and reiterated 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.

In relation to the application, the LRB had before it (1) a delegated report by the Appointed Officer, Aberdeen City Council; (2) the application dated 12 May 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 2 October 2020; (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) and the Notice of Review and supporting statement submitted by the applicant’s 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 also explained that no new matters had been raised however the submission with the Notice of Review included an alternative scheme and 3D images and the Appointed Officer did not use these when determining the application.  Members heard from the Legal Adviser, who explained that no new matters should be used unless under exceptional circumstances.  Members discussed this information and concluded that they would accept the 3D images as part of their consideration but not the alternative scheme.

Mr Evans then went on to explain that the applicant had indicated on the Notice of Review that no further procedure was required before determination.

Mr Evans then described the site advising that the application related to a 2-storey terraced granite dwelling house of traditional build and design on the northwest of Gladstone Place within the Albyn and Rubislaw Conservation Area. The rear garden was fully enclosed with approximately 1.4m high boundary walls on each side and by an existing garage on its rear boundary. To the rear (north) was Queen’s Lane South: a rear lane of a character typically found in the West End of Aberdeen, which was predominantly used as a rear access to buildings on Gladstone Place to the south and Queens Road to the north. There were a number of buildings that front directly onto the lane, including 2 Queen’s Lane South which adjoins the application site. The majority of the buildings were domestic garages, together with a grouping of buildings near to the junction with Forest Avenue associated with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The LRB 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 a single storey extension to the side and formation of carport and garden room/gym, the Highfield, Borrowstone Road Aberdeen, planning reference number 220265. 

Councillor Boulton as Chair, advised that Mr Gavin Evans would again be acting as the Planning Adviser to the Body in the following case under consideration this day and reiterated 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.

In relation to the application, the LRB had before it (1) a delegated report by the Appointed Officer, Aberdeen City Council; (2) the application dated 25 February 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 6 October 2020; (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) and the Notice of Review and supporting statement submitted by the applicant’s 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 explained that new information had been provided by the applicant, namely information from Transport Scotland and an updated drawing.  These were not considered by the original Planning Officer when a decision was made.  Members agreed unanimously to accept the new information as this information would not have been available at the time of the decision by the appointed officer. 

Mr Evans explained that the applicant had indicated on the Notice of Review that no further procedure was required before determining the application.  Members agreed unanimously to proceed without further procedure.

Mr Evans then described the site advising that it was a detached bungalow with detached double garage set in the east corner of a substantial residential curtilage extending to c.6200m². Both the dwelling and garage were of a modern design and finished in render and Fyfestone with a red tiled roof. The dwelling had been previously extended with a conservatory to the south elevation.

In terms of the description of the application, Mr Evans advised that the application consisted of two distinct elements:

1.    A single storey extension to the north elevation projecting c.5.6m, extending across the full width of the dwelling (c.8.9m), providing an additional bedroom, walk-in wardrobes, and two bathrooms. The west elevation would contain a hipped roof bay window with additional smaller windows in the west, north and east elevation. Proposed finishes would match the existing dwelling and include bullnosed Fyfestone and roughcast for the walls, and concrete roof tiles for the roof;

2.    A garden room/  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.