Agenda 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 Forum had before it the procedure note and guidance for members on the operation of Forum meetings.

The Forum resolved:-

to note the procedure note and guidance for members.

The Forum had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 24 September 2020, for approval. 

The Forum resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Forum had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, on a submission of a Proposal of Application Notice by RPS Consulting on behalf of their client Peak Reserve Power Ltd, for a major development for the erection of a battery based energy storage facility at site at Farburn Place, Dyce Aberdeen, 201599.

The report advised that the site comprised an area of vacant land located adjacent to the main Aberdeen-Inverness rail line and approximately 0.5km to the south of Dyce train station. The site comprised vacant, flat land and access was taken off Farburn Place to the east. It was noted that for the past two years the site had been utilised for ad-hoc parking without the benefit of planning permission. The Far Burn ran along the southern site boundary within a culvert.

It was noted that the site lay to the east of Aberdeen Airport. The land to the north of the site was occupied by residential flats and associated parking areas. The buildings were 4 storeys in height and overlook the application site. There were existing residential properties to the east of the railway line. There was also a mix of commercial uses in the surrounding area.

The Forum heard from Mr Gavin Clark, Senior Planner who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application. 

Mr Clark advised that in terms of principle, the site was zoned as mixed-use area in the Aberdeen Local Development Plan, which advised that proposals for development or change of use within such areas must take account of the existing uses and character of the surrounding area and avoid undue conflict with the adjacent land uses and amenity. It also stated that where new industrial, business, or commercial uses were permitted, development should not affect the amenity of people living and working in the area.

Ms Clark explained that as part of the application, the applicant had been advised that the following information would need to accompany the formal submission:-

• Location Plan, Site Plan, Elevations, Floor Plans, Building and Site Sections
• Design and Access Statement
• Pre-Application Consultation Report
• Landscaping Plan, including Management Plan
• Transport Statement, including Swept Path Analysis for emergency and refuse vehicles (if appropriate)
• Noise Impact Assessment
• Drainage Impact Assessment and SUDS Details
• Flood Risk Assessment
• Details of Refuse Storage and Collection
• Preliminary Ecological Survey; and
• Scheme of Investigation – Contaminated Land

The Forum then heard from the applicant/agent and the presenters were as follows:-

• Jonathan Smith – RPS Consulting
• Ben Coulston – speaking for the client. 

Mr Coulston began the presentation by provided an overview of Cragside Energy Ltd and noted they were founded in 2004 and specialised in developments of energy schemes that support the UK’s net zero carbon ambition and their mission was to enable a low carbon, cost effective and resilient energy system through the deployment of flexible and renewable technologies.

Mr Coulston provided some information on what energy storage was and noted that (1) they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.