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 application for the erection of a detached two storey dwellinghouse, detached double garage, stable block, walled garden and associated landscaping works including creation of a pond, orchard and driveway at Land at Baillieswells Road, Aberdeen, Planning Reference number 200818/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, Mr Mark Masson with regards to the procedure to be followed and also, thereafter, by Ms Aoife Murphy 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.  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 Mr Masson, 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) two applications dated 17 July and 20 August 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 10 March 2021; (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; and (6) consultee responses and letters of representation.

The LRB was then addressed by Ms Murphy 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.

She explained that the applicant had indicated that no new matters had been raised as part of this application for review, however on reviewing the information submitted it was considered that new information in respect to the third reason for refusal had been provided, which was not before the appointed officer when undertaking their assessment. Therefore, it would be for members to decide whether they would want to view this information.

The legal adviser outlined the process for accepting new information, following which the members unanimously agreed not to accept the new information into proceedings.

Ms Murphy then described the site advising that the area related to agricultural land located to the west of Bailieswells Road (C129C). The site extended to approx. 1.8Ha and was accessed off a private road to the south of the site. The site itself gradually rises from its western boundary towards the eastern boundary and was directly bound by four  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

As a preliminary point, Ms Lucy Greene, Planning Adviser explained that there was a discrepancy identified in the layout/elevation plan which had been submitted by the applicant, and although she had received an updated plan very recently, she required time to verify it, therefore she suggested that the review be deferred to the next meeting of the Local Review Body.

Members agreed unanimously to defer consideration of the review until the next meeting on 16 June 2021.

At this juncture, Councillor Boulton replaced Councillor Stewart as Chairperson to consider the following review.

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 erection of a summerhouse to front/side at 82 Whitehall Place, Aberdeen, Planning Reference number 201165/DPP. 

Councillor Boulton as Chair, advised that Ms Aoife Murphy 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.  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 Jane Forbes, Planner; (2) the application dated 29 September 2020; (3) the decision notice dated 9 March 2021; (4) links to the plans showing the proposal and planning policies referred to in the delegated report; (5) the Notice of Review and supporting statement submitted by the applicant’s agent; and (6) a letter of representation.

The LRB was then addressed by Ms Murphy 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.

She explained that the applicant had indicated on the Notice of Review that further procedure was required, recommending that a site visit be undertaken, which would allow members to see the site context and the extent to which the site was screened when viewed from the street.

Ms Murphy then described the site advising that it comprised a 1½ storey semi-detached dwelling house with single storey rear extension, and slated mansard style roof. The site formed a corner plot, where the principal elevation of the property fronts Whitehall Place, while the side and rear elevations fronted Whitehall Terrace. A garage lay within the northern corner of the site, accessed directly off Whitehall Terrace. The site’s boundary treatments consisted of a combination of a 2m high traditional granite rubble wall and a 0.6m high granite wall topped with approximately a 2.15m high hedge along Whitehall Terrace, the low lying wall and hedge wrapped around the site and continued onto Whitehall Place before changing to a wall and railing combination after the pedestrian gate.

Ms Murphy outlined the proposal for Detailed Planning Permission (DPP) which was sought the erection of a summerhouse within the south-east corner of the site. The structure would be octagonal in shape with a height of 3.1m to the top of the roof and 3.4m to the top of the finial.

The Appointed Officer’s reasons for refusal stated in the decision notice made reference to the following:-

·       The proposed summerhouse would occupy a prominent location within the front garden of a residential curtilage and would lie forward of the front  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.