Agenda and draft 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 20 May 2021, for approval. 

The Forum resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

Planning Officer – Lucy Greene

The Forum had before it a report by the Interim Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, on a submission of a Proposal of Application for a major development for the erection of battery based energy storage facility, at land At Raiths Industrial Estate, by Kirkton Drive, Off Pitmedden Road, Dyce, planning reference 211081.

The report advised that the proposal was to erect structures for the housing of energy storage batteries and associated equipment. 49.9MW of energy storage would be provided. The storage batteries would be stacked on racks within approximately 52 no. shipping container type structures (13m x 2.5m x 2.6m), which together with transformers and converters, a sub-station and other ancillary equipment and buildings would be contained within a fenced compound. Solid state lithium batteries would be used and the containers would also have air conditioning units for cooling.

The purpose of the facility would be to take excess power from the grid and store it, to then be fed back into the grid for use at times of need. The report stated that the power would largely be from renewable energy sources which would otherwise be switched off when power was in excess of demand. Power would not be generated on site. The report noted that the applicant stated that the site had been selected as it was close to the Dyce grid supply point, which was understood to be to the west at Cothal View. This would be linked by a cable laid within the road.

The Forum heard from Lucy Green, Senior Planner, who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application. 

Ms Greene explained that the site was zoned as B1 (Business and Industrial Land) in the Aberdeen Local Development Plan and noted that Policy B1 retains land for office and industrial uses, including Class 4: Business, 5: General Industrial and Class 6: Storage and Distribution. It is stated that conditions may be imposed restricting levels of noise, hours of operation and external storage.

Ms Greene also highlighted Policy R8: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Developments and advised that the policy supported in principle proposals for the development of renewable and low carbon energy schemes. Although the policy principally envisages renewable energy generating technologies it contained criteria for assessing schemes, indicating support where these involve technology operating efficiently and environmental and cumulative impacts were satisfactorily addressed. The criteria related to the impact on the local environment, landscape and heritage; impact on air quality, tourism and residential amenity.

Ms Greene also noted that the site fell just outside the area zoned for Aberdeen Airport, but within the safeguarding area and as such Policy B4 – Aberdeen Airport would apply. In terms of safeguarding, Policy B4 described the consultation that would take place with the Airport. Aviation impacts should be considered as part of the design of the proposed development in particular matters such as height of buildings, landscaping, impact on communication and navigation systems; bird hazards and lighting.

Ms Greene also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Planning Officer – Aoife Murphy

The Forum had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, on a submission of a Proposal of Application Notice by Halliday Fraser Munro on behalf of their client First Endeavour (Tillyoch) LLP, for a major development for a major residential development (approximately 250 units) of affordable and private housing with associated infrastructure, open space, landscaping, community facilities and energy centre - land at Tillyoch, Peterculter Aberdeen, planning reference number 210936.

The report advised that the site was located to the west of Aberdeen City, to the north of Peterculter, and fell within the City’s Green Belt.  The site extended to approximately 40 hectares and encompassed a large area of agricultural land, woodland currently protected by three Tree Preservation Orders, several individual dwellings and their associated curtilages and the Tillyoch Equestrian Centre. 

The report also explained that whilst the site was not allocated within the current Local Development Plan, part of it had been identified within the Proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2020, as an Opportunity Site OP53, as a housing opportunity for 250 houses.  The report noted that the extent of OP53 was substantially smaller (15.25Ha) than the red line site boundary provided with the current Proposal of Application Notice. 

The report also noted that the Proposal of Application Notice boundary also included two Opportunity Sites, designated in the current Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2017, OP109: Woodend and OP52: Malcolm Road for 19 and 8 homes respectively.   The site is bound by roads on all sides, with Malcolm Road (B979) forming the site’s west boundary, Culter House Road to the east and Bucklerburn Road to the south and an unknown road to the north.

The Forum heard from Ms Aoife Murphy, Senior Planner who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application.

Ms Murphy explained that the application site was close to the boundary with Aberdeenshire and was bound by public roads, and also advised of the relevant planning policies.  Ms Murphy advised that the application was a departure from the Aberdeen Local Development Plan and it also conflicted with Policy NE2 – Green Belt.

In terms of consultation, Ms Murphy advised that public consultation was undertaken by the applicant via an online event on Wednesday 18 August 2021, and noted that that public exhibition was available to view from 11 August until 1 September 2021 with comments/feedback requested by 1 September 2021.  Ms Murphy advised that a further consultation event was held on 25 August 2021, due to issues with the publicity of the previous events. 

It was noted that as part of the application, the applicant had been advised that the following information would need to accompany the formal submission:-

·         Pre-Application Consultation Report;

·         Design and Access Statement;

·         Justification for the loss of green infrastructure / development on Green Belt land;

·         Drainage Impact Assessment;

·         Flood Risk Assessment;

·         Ecological Impact Assessment;

·         Habitats Regulations Appraisal;

·         Construction Environmental Management Plan;

·         Transport Assessment;

·         Travel Plan;

·         Tree Survey Report, Arboricultural  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.