Agenda item

Planning Reference – 241277

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Planning Officer:  Roy Brown

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 with maximum occupancy of 3 people, at 116 Dee Village, Millburn Street, 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 hereby approved use of the property 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 as short term let accommodation in the meantime. Should no further planning permission be granted then the property shall revert to mainstream residential use as a flat after the aforementioned 5-year period. 

Reason: In order to allow 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 Roy Brown, Senior Planner, who spoke in furtherance of the application and answered various questions from Members.

The Committee then heard from William Rae (Ferryhill and Ruthrieston Community Council), Sheena Leslie and Richard Fahey (Chairman Dee Village Residents Association) who all objected to the proposed planning application and asked that it 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 application be refused for the following reasons:-

There were tensions with  Policy VC2 in as far as the proposal would undermine the sequential approach to locating visitor related attraction as close to the city centre as possible.

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 30 (Tourism), paragraph (e) part (i) and (ii) of National Planning Framework 4 , Policy 14 (Design, Quality and Place) of National Planning Framework 4, and Policies H1 (Residential Areas) and Policies D1(Quality Placemaking) and D2 (Amenity) of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2023.

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

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the amendment and therefore refuse the application. 

-       COUNCILLOR MCRAE, CONVENER