Agenda and minutes

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 1 September 2022, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record, subject to amending Councillor MacGregors name which was spelt incorrectly. 

Planning Officer – Alex Ferguson

The Forum had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, on a submission of a Proposal of Application by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc for an extension to an existing 132kV electricity substation including grid supply point to be accommodated in a new building, associated plant and infrastructure, ancillary facilities (including handstanding area) and road alterations and improvement works at land adjacent to existing electricity substation, Willowdale Place Aberdeen, 220562.

The report advised that the application site comprised a 2-storey industrial warehouse building at 23-42 Willowdale Place with a footprint of approximately 1200sqm along with the Willowdale Place Road carriageway.  The industrial building lies on the northern side of Willowdale Place at its eastern end, and it is bound to the north by the Willowdale Place electricity substation, operated by SSE. Further industrial and commercial buildings line both sides of Willowdale Place to the north and south, with a residential flatted development on King Street adjoining the site to the east.

The report explained that the applicant proposed to extend and upgrade the existing 132kV electricity substation on Willowdale Place. The substation extension would involve the formation of a new grid supply point, to be accommodated in a new building, replacing the existing warehouse, with associated plant and infrastructure, ancillary facilities (including an area of hardstanding), and road alterations and improvement works.  As the proposed development would comprise the upgrade of an existing onshore substation directly linked to electricity transmission cabling of or in excess of 132 kilovolts, at present the proposal constitutes a National development, in accordance with Annex A (National developments) of National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3). It should be noted that in the event National Planning Framework 4 is adopted in its current form, the development proposal was likely to constitute a Local development, due to an amendment to relevant criteria. However it is not possible to confirm this presently. 

The Forum heard from Alex Ferguson,  Planner, who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application. 

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

·       H2 (Mixed Use Areas)

·       D1 (Quality Placemaking by Design)

·       NE6 (Flooding, Drainage and Water Quality)

·       R2 (Degraded and Contaminated Land)

·       R7 (Low and Zero Carbon Buildings, and Water Efficiency)

·       T5 (Noise)

Supplementary Guidance

• Noise
• Resources for New Development

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

·       H2 (Mixed Use Areas)

·       D1 (Quality Placemaking)

·       NE4 (Our Water Environment)

·       R2 (Degraded and Contaminated Land)

·       R6 (Low and Zero Carbon Buildings, and Water Efficiency)

·       WB3 (Noise)

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:-

·       Design & Access Statement

·       Noise Impact Assessment

·       Drainage Impact Assessment

·       Pre-Application Consultation Report

The Forum then heard from the agent for the application, Mr Chris Gardener, SSE.

Mr Gardner began the presentation and provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.