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 the previous meeting of 30 September 2021, for approval.

The Forum resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

Planning Officer – Gavin Clark

The Forum had before it a report by the Interim Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, on submission of two Proposals of Application Notice by Rydens on behalf of their client, Aberdeen City Council for two major developments. The first proposal was for a major residential led, mixed use development of circa 1650 homes comprising retail and commercial provision, leisure and community uses and associated infrastructure including access roads, landscaping and engineering works at land at Greenferns Local Development Sites Opportunity Site 33 and Opportunity Site 28 Newhills Aberdeen.  The second proposal was for a major residential led, mixed use development of circa 1570 homes comprising retail and commercial provision, leisure and community uswes, gypsy travellers’ site and associated infrastructure including access roads, landscaping and engineering works at land at Greenferns Landward, Opportunity Site 22, Newhills Aberdeen. 

The report for Greenferns advised that the site extended to approximately 79.9 hectares and was located on the western edge of Aberdeen, to the west of the established residential area of Northfield and south of the Bucks Burn.  The application site was identified within the adopted Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2017 as Opportunity Site 28 and Opportunity Site 33 for around 1470 homes and 10 hectars of employment land. 

The report explained that the site was zoned as LR1 (Land Release Policy) in the Aberdeen Local Development Plan and the policy advised that “housing and employment development on existing allocated sites and housing sites allocated in Phase 1 (2017-2026) will be approved in principle within areas designated for housing or employment.  Development on an allocated site or in close proximity to an allocation that jeopardises the full provision of the allocation will be refused.

The Forum heard from Mr Gavin Clark, Senior Planner, who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application for Greenferns.  The following policies from the Aberdeen Local Development Plan (2017) were relevant:-

• Policy LR1: Land Release Policy

• Policy LR2: Delivery of Mixed-Use Communities

• OP28 and OP33: Greenferns

• Policy D1: Quality Placemaking by Design

• Policy D2: Landscape

• Policy I1: Infrastructure Delivery and Developer Obligations

• Policy T2: Managing the Transport Impact of Development

• Policy T3: Sustainable and Active Travel

• Policy T5: Noise

• Policy B4: Aberdeen Airport

• Policy H1: Residential Areas

• Policy H3: Density

• Policy H4: Housing Mix

• Policy H5: Affordable Housing

• Policy NE1: Green Space Network

• Policy NE2: Green Belt

• Policy NE4: Open Space Provision in New Development

• Policy NE5: Trees and Woodlands

• Policy NE6: Flooding, Drainage and Water Quality

• Policy NE8: Natural Heritage

• Policy NE9: Access and Informal Recreation

• Policy R2: Degraded and Contaminated Land

• Policy R6: Waste Management Requirements for New Developments

• Policy R7: Low and Zero Carbon Buildings, and Water Efficiency

• Policy CI1: Digital Infrastructure.

It was noted that as part of the application, the applicant had been advised that the following information would need to accompany  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Planning Officer – Dineke Brasier

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 a major residential development with associated infrastructure, open space and landscaping at the former Cordyce School, Riverview Drive Aberdeen, planning reference 220815.

The report advised that the proposed development site was an irregular shaped area extending to 7.9 hectares and was located in the green belt.  The site was bound by the River Don to its north and east and mature trees to its south and west.  Beyond the tree belt to the south was Riverview Drive which provided a direct connection to the residential area, shops and community facilities in Dyce.  To the west were some scattered buildings, including some residential dwellings and farm buildings with the A947 – Oldmeldrum Road beyond.

The site was previously occupied by Cordyce Special Needs School and has since been demolished, following the opening of Orchard Brae School.  It was noted there was a distinct level difference between the relatively flat area that was previously occupied by the school buildings and ascociated playing fields and the river to the north and east, which lies at a lower level.  There is also a footpath running along the riverbank.

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

Ms Brasier provided details on the relevant planning policies noting that the following policies were relevant to the proposed application:-

·       NE2 – Green Belt

·       D1 – Quality Placemaking by Design

·       D2 – Landscape

·       I1 – Infrastructure Delivery and Planning Obligation

·       T2 – Managing the Transport Impact of Development

·       T3 – Sustainable and Active Travel

·       B4 – Aberdeen Airport

·       H3 – Density

·       H4 – Housing Mix

·       H5 – Affordable Housing

·       NE1 – Green Space Network

·       NE4 – Open Space Provision in New Development

·       NE5 – Trees and Woodland

·       NE6 – Flooding, Drainage and Water Quality

·       NE8 – Natural Heritage

·       NE9 – Access and Informal Recreation

·       R6 – Waste Management Requirements for New Developments

·       R7 – Low and Zero Carbon Building and Water Efficiency

·       CI1 – Digital Infrastructure

In relation to Supplementary Guidance, the following were also relevant:-

1.     Affordable Housing

2.     Flooding, Drainage and Water Quality

3.     Green Space Network and Open Space

4.     Natural Heritage

5.     Planning Obligations

6.     Resources for New Development

7.     Transport and Accessibility and 

8.     Trees and Woodlands

Ms Brasier also highlighted the Proposed Local Development Plan 2020 and noted the following policies as relevant:-

·       LR1 – Land Release

·       WB1 – Health Developments

·       NE2 – Green and Blue Infrastructure

·       NE3 – Natural Heritage

·       NE4 – Our Water Environment

·       NE5 – Trees and Woodland

·       D1 – Quality Placemaking

·       D2 – Amenity

·       D4 - Landscape

·       D5 – Landscape Design

·       R5 – Waste Management Requirements in New Development

·       R6 – Low and Zero Carbon Buildings and Water Efficiency

·       H3 – Density

·       H4 – Housing Mix and Need

·       H5 – Affordable Housing

·       I1 – Infrastructure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.