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 erection of a single storey extension to the rear with terrace above and external access stairs at 20 Kirk Crescent South, Aberdeen, Planning Reference 190691/DPP.

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 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 Ross McMahon, Planner; (2) the application dated 24 April 2019; (3) the decision notice dated 11 October 2019; (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 along with an accompanying statement with further information relating to the application; and (6) letters of representation.

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 it was a one-and-a-half storey detached dwelling with a western facing principal elevation.  The property had an integrated single garage covered within the 1989 grant of planning permission and there was a large rear garden to the east of the property.

He indicated that the site was bounded to the north by 5 Kirk Drive, a two-storey dwelling with its principal elevation to the north and its garden area to the west rather that the rear of the dwelling.  In terms of characterisation, no one style or form of dwelling was prevalent in the area and there had been extensions to dwellings in the area, and principally these were to the rear and typically single-storey.  Mr Evans also explained that the site was located in a Residential Area in the Local Development Plan 2017.

Mr Evans then outlined the applicant’s proposal making reference to the history of the site and  ...  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 erection of a single storey extension and decking to the rear and replacement roof to the existing front extension, at Tigh Na Struan, Aberdeen, Planning Reference 190950/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 Ross McMahon, Planner; (2) the application dated 13 June 2019; (3) the decision notice dated 7 November 2019 (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 agent along with an accompanying statement; and (6) a letter of representation from an individual.

The LRB was then addressed by Mr Evans who advised that when the Clerk wrote to the individual who submitted a letter of support for the application, to advise of the review, that he then submitted further letters of support from individuals.  Mr Templeton, Solicitor, explained that it was for the Local Review Body to decide if these letters should be (a) be accepted as the persons concerned did not originally make representations and (b) any issues raised in them would need to meet the statutory test to be accepted   as they would be classed as new information.  Members agreed unanimously to accept these letters, were content that they met the statutory test, and to note that they would be considered as part of the review.

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 corner of School Road and Bucklerburn Road within the settlement of Peterculter and comprised Tigh Na Struan, a sub-divided cottage and its associated northern section of Bucklerburn Cottage.  The property had been extended on its eastern side, facing School Road by way of a single-storey extension and to the west by way of a sun lounge and small porch.  The property had an expansive garden located to the west of the dwelling, which sloped down to a culverted section of the Buckler Burn, a tributary of the Culter Burn.  Finally Mr Evans advised that a number of small ancillary buildings which included sheds and greenhouses were located to the west of the site, where it sloped down towards the Buckler Burn.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.