Agenda item

Planning Reference – 241252

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Planning Officer:  Esmond Sage

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which recommended:-

That the application for Detailed Planning Permission for the change of use of flat to Short Term Let accommodation (sui generis) with maximum occupancy of 2 people at 40 Urquhart Road Aberdeen, be approved subject to the following conditions:-

Conditions

(01)    DURATION OF PERMISSION

The development to which this notice relates must be begun not later than the expiration of 3 years beginning with the date of this notice. If development has not begun at the expiration of the 3-year period, the planning permission lapses.

Reason - in accordance with section 58 (duration of planning permission) of the 1997 Act.

(02)    TIME LIMIT FOR SHORT TERM LET USE

The use of the flat for short term let accommodation as hereby approved, shall expire 5 years following the date of the grant of permission as stated on this notice, unless a further planning permission has been granted for continued use of the property as serviced apartment accommodation in the meantime. Should no further planning permission be granted then the property shall revert to a flat in residential use after the aforementioned 5-year period.

Reason - In order to allow reassessment of the local housing need and demand situation and the local economic benefits derived from the use of the property as short term let accommodation to be reassessed in 5 years' time, to ensure that the loss of the property as residential accommodation would remain compliant with Policy 30 of NPF4.

The Committee heard from Esmond Sage, Planner, who spoke in furtherance of the report and answered various questions from Members.

The Committee then heard from Alan Gordon and Alan McKay, who both objected to the proposed planning application and asked that the application be refused.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

That the application be approved in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Boulton, seconded by Councillor Macdonald, moved as an amendment:-

          That the Committee refuse the application for the following reasons:-

The site was in close proximity to a mixed use area in the city centre and would be compliant in principle with Policy 30 (Tourism), paragraph (e) part (i) of National Planning Framework 4. It was considered that the proposed change of use of the property to Short Term Let accommodation would likely result in significant detrimental impacts upon the amenity of the immediate neighbouring residential properties within the application building beyond what could typically be expected if it were to be used as mainstream residential accommodation through noise disturbance, the frequency of changes in occupants, and the impact on security, real or perceived, within the communal areas of the building.

The proposed change of use was thus considered to be contrary to Policy H1 (Residential Areas) and Policy D2 (Amenity) of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2023.

On a division, there voted – for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Clark, Cooke and Copland – for the amendment (4) – Councillors Boulton, Farquhar, Lawrence and Macdonald. 

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion and therefore approve the application conditionally.