Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found here.

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 Convener accepted the following item as a matter of urgency in terms of Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as the deadline for responses was imminent. 

The Committee had before it a referral from the Capital Programme Committee of 22 January 2020, which requested:-

To refer the decision of the Capital Programme Committee to the Planning Development Management Committee on 23^rd January 2020, asking them to consider instructing the Chief Executive to write to Historic Environment Scotland opposing the Listing buildings as Category A.

The Committee heard from Claire McArthur in this regard.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that a letter on behalf of the Planning Authority was currently being prepared raising a number of concerns in relation to technical aspects of the proposed listings identified in the urgent motion.  The Planning Authority forms part of the regulatory process for assessing applications for works to listed buildings. If the decision by Historic Environment Scotland was to proceed with the listing of these buildings, the planning authority would therefore be involved in assessing any future applications for works to them and as such should not prejudice its impartial position by objecting at this time; and

(ii)       to therefore take no action.   

The Committee had before it the minute of the previous meeting of 5 December 2019, for approval. 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record. 

The Committee had before it the minute of the Planning Development Management Committee (Visits) of 18 December 2019, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.    

The Committee had before it a planner of future Committee business.

Councillor Cooke questioned whether the Committee Effectiveness report would include the amount of planning applications considered and whether they were approved in line with officers’ recommendations or refused, rather than just receiving information on reports. 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note the comment made in regards to the Committee Effectiveness report and noted that this was currently being investigated; and

(ii)            to otherwise note the information contained within the business planner. 

Planning Reference – 191536

All documents associated with this application can be found at the following link and enter the reference number above:-  Link.

Planning Officer:  Robert Forbes

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which recommended:-

That the application for detailed planning permission for the erection of six residential flats with associated landscaping, be approved with a legal agreement and subject to the following conditions:-

Conditions

1.             The development hereby approved shall not be occupied unless the communal external amenity area / shared garden ground as identified on the drawings hereby approved [refs. A(03)001 rev.C; A(03)004 rev.D], or such other drawings as may be approved in writing by the planning authority, has been implemented / planted in full and is thereafter retained as landscaped communal space.

Reason - In order to ensure provision of adequate amenity for residents and ensure compliance with the objective of local plan policies D1: Quality Placemaking by Design, D2: Landscape, H1: Residential Areas and NE4: Open Space Provision in New Development.

2.             No development shall take place pursuant to this planning permission unless construction details of the proposed street boundary wall along Bedford Place and a sample of the natural granite to be used on the external elevations of the building has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority. The development hereby approved shall not be occupied unless such details as may be approved have been implemented in full.

Reason – In order to preserve the character and setting of the surrounding area and ensure compliance with the objective of local plan policies D1: Quality Placemaking by Design, D5: Our Granite Heritage and H1: Residential Areas.

3.             The development hereby approved shall not be occupied unless secure cycle parking / storage facilities have been provided on site for occupants in accordance with the drawing hereby approved [A(03)004 rev.D], or such other drawing as may be approved in writing by the planning authority.

Reason – In order to ensure compliance with planning policy T2: Managing the Transport Impact of Development and reduce demand for car parking.

4.             The development hereby approved shall not be occupied unless the bin storage area has been provided on site for occupants in accordance with the drawing hereby approved [A(03)004 rev.D], or such other drawing as may be approved in writing by the planning authority.

Reason – In order to ensure compliance with planning policy R6: Waste Management Requirements for New development

The Committee heard from Robert Forbes, Senior Planner, who spoke in furtherance of the application and answered various questions from members.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the application conditionally with a legal agreement.

Planning Reference – 191034

All documents associated with this application can be found at the following link and enter the reference number above:-  Link.   

Planning Officer:  Gavin Evans

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which recommended:-

That the application for planning permission in principle for the erection of a residential development comprising 23 affordable dwellinghouses with associated landscaping, garden ground, parking and access road, be refused.

The Committee heard from Gavin Evans, Senior Planner, who spoke in furtherance of the application and answered various questions from members. 

The Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Copland:-

That the application be refused in line with the recommendation contained in the report. 

Councillor Allan moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Cooke:-

That there be a willingness to approve the application, subject to conditions and subject to an appropriate legal agreement to secure the developer obligations sums identified in the report and to ensure that the development was delivered as affordable housing.    This was for the following reasons:-

·       It was considered the provision of a wider range of affordable housing in Kingswells to be of benefit in allowing local residents with growing families to remain in the community;

·       It was considered this was an acceptable departure from the Local Development Plan on the basis of being a development of exclusively affordable housing units. The proposal exceeds the requirements of Aberdeen Local Development Plan (ALDP) policy H5 (Affordable Housing), which requires 25% of any housing development to be provided as affordable units. This is consistent with the ALDP, which states “To maximise the provision of affordable housing it is the aim of the Council to take a flexible approach to its delivery, with a view to maximising opportunities to achieve the highest level possible”;

·       It was noted that part of the site was currently zoned for residential use (policy H1 applies), and as such there was no conflict with the Development Plan on that portion of the site;

·       Whilst it is recognised that policy NE2 (Green Belt) does not provide for such development, it was noted that the site was relatively small-scale and would not result in any coalescence or loss of integrity for Kingswells as a distinct settlement, and the proposed structural landscape planting along the northern and eastern boundaries of the site would assist in mitigating the visual impact of the proposal and any adverse impact on the character and amenity of the green belt, such that the development would not undermine these key aims of Green Belts, as expressed by Scottish Planning Policy (SPP).

Conditions

(1)           DETAILED DESIGN

No development pursuant to this Planning Permission in Principle may be undertaken unless details of a finalised site layout have first been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the planning authority, via a formal application for the approval of matters specified in conditions (AMSC). Any such application shall include details of the following matters:

·       Full details of the site access and internal road layout, including: identification of the adoptable extent of roads and footpaths; connections to surrounding road and path infrastructure; details of materials used in roads & footpaths construction; swept-path diagrams illustrating  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Planning Reference – 190815

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Planning Officer:  Lucy Greene

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which recommended:-

That the application for planning permission in principle for the erection of a two-storey 21-bed care home with associated access, car parking and landscaping, at land to the north of 15 Craigden Aberdeen, be refused.

The Committee resolved:-

to agree that the application be deferred for a site visit, which would take place on Thursday 30 January 2020 from 9.30am.

-       Councillor Marie Boulton, Convener