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 19 September 2019, 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 Telereal Trillium, for a major redevelopment to form primarily residential units, approximately 140, including demolition and other ancillary development with car parking, access, landscaping and infrastructure at 54 Gallowgate, Greyfriars House, Aberdeen, 191321.

The report advised that the application site comprised a 3 storey and basement “C” shaped vacant office building and surface car park situated on the eastern side of Gallowgate, which lay to the north of a late 20^th Century flatted development on Littlejohn Street and immediately to the south of the Gallowgate public car park. 

The report provided a description of the site and noted that there were three indicative options for the proposed redevelopment of the site that had been put forward and they were:-

1. 90 units – one “C” shaped building which would be approximately replicating the footprint of the existing office building.  The new building would be 5 storeys in height, with the top storey at roof level recessed from the wallhead, with balcony terracing;
2. 120 units – would consist of two buildings.  One 5 storey with recessed top storey, linear block onto Gallowgate and one “C” shaped block, in the eastern half of the site, with a central opening to the carpark to the north; and
3. 140 units – one “E” shaped building, approximately replicating the footprint of the existing building but with the addition of a central wing which would project south.  The building would increase from 5 storeys with top storey recess onto Gallowgate, which would step up to 7 storeys with top storey recess, at the eastern end. 

The report stated that all three options would retain the existing vehicular access taken off Gallowgate which served a surface car park to the rear of the building.  An element of car parking was proposed to be retained in all three options, with a landscaped communal amenity area provided on a deck built above the car park.

The Forum heard from Alex Ferguson, Planning Officer, who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application.  Mr Ferguson advised that the application site was within the city centre boundary however it lay outwith the City Centre Masterplan boundary.  Mr Ferguson explained that as the application site was within the city centre, the Affordable Housing Waiver would apply and should the applicant wish to utilise it, no affordable housing would be required as part of the development, should the application be submitted before 30 June 2020 and determined prior to 31 December 2020.  Otherwise the usual 25% requirement would apply.

Mr Ferguson 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 (existing and proposed)
• Elevations (existing and proposed)
• Contextual Street Elevations (existing and proposed)
• Floor plans (existing and proposed)
• Design and Access Statement
• Planning Statement
• Pre-Application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.