Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=348&MId=4170&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Committee conducted a site visit prior to the Hearing. The Committee was addressed by Mr Allison, Senior Planner and Mr Garfield Prentice, Team Leader (Development Management South) and summarised the proposal for the overall site.

The Convener explained that the Committee would return to the Town House to commence the Hearing.

Planning Reference – 151742

The documents associated with this application can be found at:-

http://planning.aberdeencity.gov.uk/PlanningDetail.asp?ref=151742

Case Officer – Gareth Allison

The Committee heard from the Convener who opened up the Hearing by welcoming those present.  He explained that the first person to address the Hearing would be Mr Allison.

The Committee heard from Gareth Allison, Senior Planner, Aberdeen City Council who addressed the Committee in the following terms:-

Mr Allison explained that the Aberdeen Harbour Expansion Project was subject to three separate consenting processes, those being:-

·      Harbour Revision Order (HRO);

·      Marine Licenses (ML); and

·      Planning Permission in Principle.

Mr Allison advised that Aberdeen City Council was the consenting Planning Authority for this Planning Permission in Principle application and that the physical construction of the harbour and the impacts on the marine environment were to be considered under the HRO and ML by Scottish Ministers.

Mr Allison outlined the proposals for the application and indicated that this application relates specifically to all inland non-harbour related development components that are located out with the HRO boundary.

Mr Allison advised that the application related specifically to all inland non-harbour related development components that are located outwith the HRO boundary and are not subject to permitted development rights.  This includes the construction of new infrastructure to facilitate the creation of the harbour itself, including new/realigned roads, temporary construction areas and off-road cycle track improvements.

He indicated that the application site comprises a 30ha linear stretch of inland coastline at Nigg Bay that included:-

·         Land to the north of the Greyhope Road/Coast Road/St Fitticks Road junction (beyond the informal golf practice area);

·         Land to the north of Greyhope road, until it meets Balnagask Golf Course;

·         Land directly to the east of St Fitticks Church and St Fitticks Community Park;

·         The northern Girdleness headland, including Walker Park;

·         The southern Gregness headland, including parts of Loirston Country Park (excluding the Gregness coastguard station and communications masts);

·         Land directly to the east of the Coast Road (south of the Nigg Wastewater Treatment;

Plant to the Coast Road Bridge); and

·         Land to the east side of the railway, travelling south until near the junction of the Coast Road and Hareness Road.

Mr Allison explained that pre-application consultation had been undertaken and advised that 18 letters of representation had been received, one of which was a letter of support and the others being letters of objection.

Mr Allison explained that in terms of representations the main areas of concern were as follows:-

·         Loss of land for road alterations;

·         Loss of land for temporary construction areas;

·         Direct and consequential impact on local business;

·         Impact on existing roads / access / transportation;

·         Road safety hazard / risk;

·         Visual Impact;

·         Light impact;

·         Noise impact deriving from construction work;

·         Air quality impact deriving from construction work;

·         General impact on local environment;

·         Loss of open space;

·         Fragmentation of natural habitat; and

·         Incompatibility with existing uses.

Members then asked questions of Mr Allison and Mr Mark Wilkie (Senior Engineer), and the following information was noted:

·         That work in the area may take 3 years to complete;

·         That areas of land used for temporary construction sites would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.