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 250547. 

The Local Review Body (LRB) of Aberdeen City Council met on this day to consider a review of the decision taken by an appointed officer under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation for the refusal of the application for Detailed Planning Permission for the formation of driveway to the front  at 50 School Drive Aberdeen.

Councillor McRae 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 by the Appointed Officer, Aberdeen City Council; (2) an application dated 24 May 2025; (3)  the Decision Notice dated 31 July 2025; (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the draft delegated report, (5) a consultee comment as well as a letter of support from a neighbour  and (6) the Notice of Review submitted by the applicant. 

Ms Greene then described the site and outlined the appellant’s proposal for detailed planning permission.

Ms Greene advised that the application site comprised the curtilage of a ground-floor flat within a traditional four-in-a-block, two-storey granite tenement building with access to the ground-floor unit provided from the side (western) elevation. The building’s principal (northern) elevation overlooked a grass covered garden with shrubbery and a paved pathway leading to the centre entrance for the first-floor units and wrapping around the side of the building. The front curtilage was bound by a low-level wire fence. A pavement and narrow grass verge separate the front curtilage with School Drive to the north. Two disabled parking bays were marked on the southern side of the road immediately adjacent to the application property. The site was located on a residential street with neighbouring buildings of a matching design. The front curtilages of the neighbouring dwellings have a variety of layouts with some including front driveways, as well as grass and paving covered front gardens.

In terms of the proposal Ms Greene indicated that Detailed Planning Permission was sought for the formation of a driveway in the front curtilage, extending from the front  ...  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 250516.

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 straightening of both hipped gables, erection of two storey extension with balcony to rear, and erection of replacement garage, at 20 Westholme Avenue Aberdeen.

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 20 May 2025 (3) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (4) the decision notice dated 15 August 2025 (5) the Notice of Review submitted by the agent and (6) one letter of objection. 

Ms Greene then described the site and outlined the appellant’s proposal.   The site comprised the curtilage of a traditional, mid-20th century one-and-a-half storey detached dwelling situated on the north-eastern side of Westholme Avenue. The grey granite walled dwelling had a hipped slate roof with front and rear dormers. A single-storey garage with lean-to roof was attached to the side (southern) elevation and adjacent boundary wall. The garage extended beyond the rear (eastern) elevation of the dwelling. A small single-storey extension projected from the northern end of the rear elevation. The site was bound on either side (north and south) by neighbouring detached dwellings of a similar style, with long rear curtilages bound by a mid-level granite wall. The rear of the property was bound by a narrow lane. The area surrounding the application site along Westholme Avenue featured similarly designed detached dwellings. The north-eastern side of Westholme Avenue featured a consistent row of similarly designed, one-and-a-half storey, hipped roof mid-20th century dwellings. Some dwellings of alternative ages and designs were also present in the vicinity, namely four late 20th century two storey pitched roof dwellings with front-facing gables to the south of the application property (on the opposite side of the street) and two late 20th -century one-and-a-half storey dwelling’s with front facing gables are sited to the west, adjacent to the North Burn of Rubislaw and with Westholme Crescent North.

In terms of the proposal, Ms Greene advised that Detailed Planning Permission was sought for the following:

·       Hip-to-gable roof extensions to both side elevations of the original dwelling;

·       Erection of a two-storey extension that would project from the full width of the rear elevation, with a pitched roof, rear gable end, and Juliet balcony; and

·       Erection of a replacement garage and extension to the side. 

Ms Greene indicated that the appointed officer’s reasons for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.