Agenda and minutes

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

Members, please note that all plans and supporting documents relevant to the review can be viewed online here and by entering the application reference number 210851

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 raised decking with balustrade to the rear at 12 Woodhill Place Aberdeen, planning reference number 210851/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 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.  The Chairperson 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 10 June 2021; (3) the decision notice dated 24 February 2022; (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’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 then described the site advising that the application site formed part of an established residential area and comprised a semi-detached one and a half storey dwelling and its front, side and rear curtilage.  The property had been extended to the rear (east) by way of a two-storey extension and the principal elevation fronts Woodhill Place, while residential properties bound the site to the north, south and east.   The property shared a mutual driveway with 10 Woodhill Place and the site slopes down gradually from west to east, resulting in a basement level to the rear of the dwelling.

Mr Evans advised that detailed planning permission was sought for the erection of a raised area of decking to the rear elevation of the dwelling, accessed via the kitchen within the existing rear extension and the decking would project 2.4m from ground level with a 1.1m high timber balustrade.  It was also proposed to include a 1.8m glazed screen along the southern extent of the raised deck.  Finishing materials include natural stained timber.   It was noted that since the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

Members, please note that all plans and supporting documents relevant to the review can be viewed online here and by entering the application reference number 210763.

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 change of use to form 2 residential units including formation of first floor extension above an existing single storey extension, alterations to windows and doors; formation of porches, fences with gates and associated works at 215 Stoneywood Road Aberdeen, planning reference 210763/DPP. 

The Chairperson advised that Mr 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.  The Chairperson 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 (ACC); (2) the original application dated 28 May 2021; (3) the decision notice dated 10 February 2022; (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’s agent; (6) consultee response submitted by the Roads Development Management Team (ACC), Environmental Health (ACC), Waste Strategy (ACC) and Scottish Water.

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 two new roads drawing were included with the Notice of Review, which were not before the appointed officer when a decision was made.  Legal advice was sought and Members were reminded that they should only accept new information in exceptional circumstances and if the information could not have been submitted to the original planning officer.  Members agreed unanimously not to accept these two drawings as part of their consideration and determination.

Ms Evans then described the site advising that the site comprised a 1 ½ storey detached dwellinghouse and its associated grounds in an established residential area.  The building had an east facing principal elevation that fronts Stoneywood Road and there was a four-way signalised junction on the road immediately adjacent to the site.  A garage had been partially constructed in the rear grounds of the site and the site was bounded by residential dwellinghouses to the south, north and west. 

In terms of the appellant’s proposal, Mr Evans advised that detailed planning permission was sought for the change of use to form 2 residential units including formation of a first floor extension above an existing single storey extension, alterations to windows and doors, formation of porches, fences with gates and associated works.  The existing building would be substantially altered to have a singular two-storey gable roofed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Members, please note that all plans and supporting documents relevant to the review can be viewed online here and by entering the application reference number 211459.

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 change of use from amenity space to footway crossing and formation of driveways with associated works at 15-21 Brebner Crescent Aberdeen, planning reference number 211459/DPP. 

The Chairperson advised that Ms Lucy Greene would 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, she 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.  The Chairperson 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 (ACC); (2) the original application dated 14 October 2021; (3) the decision notice dated 13 January 2022; (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; (6) a consultee response submitted by the Roads Development Management Team (ACC); (7) a letter of representation and (8) a letter from Jackie Dunbar MSP.

The LRB was then addressed by Ms Greene 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.

Ms Greene then described the site advising that the site comprised four residential dwelling, their front and rear curtilage, 50sqm area of amenity space and the section of footway between the residential boundaries and the amenity space.  The site is located at the south end of a cul-de-sac of Brebner Crescent in a residential area and the road terminates to the north of the amenity space.  The amenity space comprised one half of a larger area of amenity space at the end of the cul-de-sac which comprised short cut grass.  Brebner Crescent and the wider area had a large number of similar areas of open space in and around the streetscape.  The front curtilage of 15, 17 and 19 Brebner Crescent are already hard surfaced and they have been used as driveways by vehicles crossing the amenity space and the footway. 

In terms of the appellant’s proposal, Ms Greene advised that detailed planning permission was sought for the change of use of the amenity land at the northwest corner of the site to form a footway crossing that would allow access to single driveways to each of the four residential dwellings on the application site.  The amenity space would be replaced with Grasscrete units planted with grass on hardcore.  Vehicles would access the driveways by way of a dropped kerb, the newly formed footway crossing and by crossing the footway.  The driveways would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Members, please note that all plans and supporting documents relevant to the review can be viewed online here and by entering the application reference number 211056.

The LRB then considered the fourth 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 community sport facilities with associated fencing and hard standing sports courts at Formartine Road/Conningham Gardens Aberdeen, planning reference 211056/DPP

The Chairperson advised that Ms Lucy Greene 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, she 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.  The Chairperson 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 (ACC); (2) the original application dated 20 July 2021; (3) the decision notice dated 11 March 2022; (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’s agent and (6) letters of representations and consultee comments.  

The LRB was then addressed by Ms Greene 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.

Ms Greene then described the site advising that the application site comprised a 3,500sqm (67m x 52m) rectangular area of public, green open space situated on the eastern side of Formartine Road and to the south of Coningham Gardens, in Tillydrone. The site is predominantly grassed and incorporates 24 trees of various species and sizes, including two large maple trees in the north-western corner. The site lies within a residential area of Tillydrone and is bound to the north, south and west by four-storey blocks of flats, all of which lie beyond the intervening road carriageways of Coningham Gardens (north), Formartine

Road (west) and a residential car park to the south. A pedestrian footpath delineates the eastern boundary of the site, with the land beyond comprising the construction site of a new primary school.

In terms of the applicant’s proposal, Ms Green indicated that  detailed planning permission was sought for the formation of a community outdoor sports facility on the existing area of green space, with associated fencing. The proposed facility would comprise the following:

·       A green-coloured, 42m x 28m ‘Cruyff Court’ artificial pitch with football goals and associated perimeter ball-stop fencing (ranging between 1.1m and 4m in height);

·       A basketball / dodgeball court, two mini-tennis courts, a 40m long running track and freestyle hoops, all to be formed on blue-coloured porous asphalt surrounding the artificial pitch;

·       Multiple benches, cycle stands and bins; and

·       1.8m high metal mesh fencing along the facility’s northern, southern and western boundaries.

The sports facilities would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.