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 dwelling house with double garage and associated access road, at Highview House, Blacktop Road Aberdeen, planning reference 191418/DPP.

Councillor MacDonald 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 Jamie Leadbeater, Planner; (2) the application dated 16 September 2019; (3) the decision notice dated 11 December 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 the application site, which extends to 0.43 hectares, formed part of an existing residential curtilage, located on the northern side of Blacktop Road, at its junction with Baillieswells Road.

He advised that the donor property, at Highview House, sat within a plot of approximately 1.09ha, which sloped down to the road and was bounded by conifer plantations to the north and east. The proposed new house plot was in the southern portion of the Highview House site, with both properties to be served by the existing driveway access in the south-eastern corner.

Mr Evans highlighted there were a number of shrubs and smaller trees within the proposed site, and its southern boundary to Blacktop Road was defined by a low stone wall and high leylandii hedging which was at least over 3m. The hedging continued westwards along the road frontage of the neighbouring land, which offered screening to the site of the proposed new  ...  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 to the public facing rear and formation of dormers to the front and rear at 36 Raeden Crescent Aberdeen, planning reference 191508/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 Roy Brown Planner; (2) the application dated 3 October 2019; (3) the decision notice dated 10 December 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) letters of representations submitted.

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 a two-storey semi-detached house, located within a mid-20^th century residential development on the southern side of Westburn Road. The drydash rendered property could be seen through trees from Westburn Road.  Its South west elevation fronts onto an area of open space shared with other properties, and the property sits on a slope, with the rear north east elevation sitting approx. 0.8m lower.

Mr Evans also advised that It was notable that the surrounding development was characterised by rows of properties arranged around public open spaces and footpaths, with separate communal car parks, but dormer windows were not a feature of the original properties, and there were no examples in the immediate surrounding area.

In regard to the proposal, Mr Evans explained that planning permission was sought for the erection of box dormers on the front and rear of the dwelling and for the erection of a single storey extension to the rear.  The proposed dormers were 5.5m in width,  positioned c.0.6m below the roof ridge and located on the mutual boundary 680mm in from the gable.   The front faces would be fully glazed with dark grey window frames and the sides and roof would be finished in grey metal cladding.  The rear extension would have a lean-to style roof with a maximum height of c.4.6m and an eaves height of c.3.8m. It would be c.5.9m in width and would project c.2.1m from the rear elevation of the property, and along the boundary shared with 34 Raeden Crescent. The extension finished with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The Local Review Body 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 replacement 1.5 storey extension to the rear and the straightening of eaves at 16 Newlands Crescent Aberdeen, planning reference 191551/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 Jamie Leadbeater, Planner; (2) the application dated 14 October 2019; (3) the decision notice dated 21 January 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 applicants agent along with an accompanying statement. 

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 and noted that the application site comprised the residential curtilage of a traditional 1.5 storey semi-detached dwellinghouse on the north-eastern side of Newlands Crescent.  The property incorporated features such as a bay window to the front and hipped roof dormer windows to the front and rear set within hipped slated roof, which also included a single chimney stack at the side end of the house.  External walls to the main part of the building were finished in traditional granite blocks whilst a single storey projecting with adjoining conservatory exists on the rear

elevation.  The application property formed one half of a symmetrical shaped building, the other half comprising another dwellinghouse which was identical in its built form and appearance other than a difference in doors and window frames.  In terms of the wider streetscene, all houses were of the same original house type and very few had been altered from their original built form.

In regard to the proposal, Mr Evans explained that planning permission was sought for straightening the gable of the existing hipped roof and the erection of a 1.5 storey extension to the rear of the dwellinghouse.  The rear extension would project 4m outwards from the original rear elevation and span the full width of the house (6.75m). Its eaves would measure 3.37m and its ridge would measure 7.28m high. The roof tiles and render to the walls would match the existing finishes.

Mr Evans outlined the appointed Officer’s reasons for refusal as follows:-

·        The proposed straightening of the gable would create an imbalance in the

appearance of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.