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 220432.

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 for the refusal of an application for Detailed Planning Permission for the Change of use and conversion of class 4 office building to form 2 residential flats, alterations and installation of replacement windows and doors; formation of entrance door from an existing window opening; associated works landscaping works; and installation of retractable bollards - Studio 3, 32 Albert Street Aberdeen, planning reference 220432.

Councillor Henrickson as Chair for the meeting, 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 Ms Lucy Greene 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, 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.  He 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 and decision letter by the Appointed Officer, Aberdeen City Council; (2) an application dated 31 March 2022, (3) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (4) the Notice of Review submitted by the agent; and (5) letters of representation from the Aberdeen City Council’s Roads Development Management Team, Waste and Recycling Team and also Environmental Health. 

Ms Greene then described the site and outlined the appellant’s proposal.   The application site was located to the west of Albert Street and to the rear of 6 Carden Place within the West End of Aberdeen and formed part of a category B listed building, formerly known as Melville Carden Church. The building consisted of a granite gothic church with 2 tower façade and cruciform-plan. The church was designed by Robert Wilson of Ellis and Wilson in 1882. In 1990 the church was sensitively converted into offices. 32 Albert Street, the subject of this application, comprised the rear (northern) section of the building and had a separate entrance off Albert Street, although the buildings were linked by internal staircases. 32 Albert Street originally comprised the vestry, kitchen and session room serving the church, and was converted to offices along with the church. Whilst also accommodating the building, the application site also encompassed an area of parking to the  ...  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 211759.

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 Detailed Planning Permission for the formation of a surface car park, at land off Dyce Avenue Aberdeen, planning reference number 211759. 

The Chairperson stated that although the Planning Adviser for the LRB 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.  He 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 and decision notice by the Appointed Officer, Aberdeen City Council; (2) an application dated 14 December 2021 (3) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (4) various responses from statutory consultees and (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the agent. 

Ms Greene then described the application site and noted that the application related to an area of vacant ground within what was known as Aberdeen Business Park, forming part of the wider Kirkhill Industrial Estate and other business and industrial land surrounding Aberdeen International Airport. The site extended to 0.69 hectares and comprised scrub, tall ruderal species and areas of rough grass. It was surrounded by built development, with the airport staff car park and small industrial units to the east (both accessed from Argyll Close); a warehouse to the south (accessed from Dyce Avenue); a car park to the west associated with an industrial use located on the opposite side of Thistle Road; and to the north by other business units set within landscaping, accessed from Thistle Road. There was an electricity substation immediately to the north and a telecommunications mast to the east. There was an informal and unmade footpath which crosses the southern part of the site from east to west, connecting the Jury’s Inn Hotel car park and Dyce Avenue.

In regards to the proposal, Ms Greene advised that Detailed planning permission was sought for the construction of a 274-space car park. It was intended that it would serve both airport passengers as well as workers from the surrounding business and industrial uses within Kirkhill. The car park would be finished in a hard surface and have areas of landscaping around its edges. Access and egress would be via a new junction onto the turning circle at the eastern end of Dyce Avenue. Drainage trenches would be provided in-between the car parking spaces, and a swale, to provide SuDS to deal with surface water discharge. Security measures including barriers, CCTV cameras, ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras and fencing were proposed, but at this stage no details of these aspects have been provided. Of the 274 parking spaces, 70 spaces would be for electric vehicle charging,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.