Agenda item

Planning Reference – 250148

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Link.

Planning Officer:  Alex Ferguson

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

That the application for Listed Building Consent for internal alterations to provide renewed services and welfare facilities at West Kirk/Drum Isle/Tower including removal of partitions and doors; removal/relocation of boxed pews; removal of roof lantern; installation of flues and extract; and installation of signage with associated works, at West Church of St Nicholas, Back Wynd,  Aberdeen, be approved subject to the following conditions:-

Conditions

(1) BUILDING SURVEY

Prior to any of the hereby approved works taking place, all areas of the building where works are proposed shall be surveyed and a detailed, photographic survey accompanied by floor plans recording the existing state of the building prior to alteration shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Council as planning authority.

Reason: In order to accurately survey the building prior to the works taking place, to provide a detailed record of its historic fabric and internal layout for future generations.

(2) HEATING, LIGHTING AND CCTV DETAILS

Prior to the hereby approved heating (including external flues), lighting and CCTV camera fixture installation works taking place, precise details of the specification and sitings of all such fixtures, as well as details of any associated cable routing, shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Council as planning authority. Thereafter the works shall take place in accordance with the agreed details.

Reason: In order to preserve the special character, architectural and historic interest of the building.

(3) PEW AND RAISED TIMBER FLOOR REMOVAL METHODOLOGY

Prior to any works taking place to remove the pews and raised timber floor panels hereby approved for removal, as shown on approved drawing (01)200 Revision C (Proposed Downtaking Floor Plans), and any associated works to make good the flooring once the pews have been removed, a detailed methodology for those works shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Council as planning authority.

Reason: In order to minimise the risk of damage to the original flagstones beneath, and to preserve the special character, architectural and historic interest of the building.

(4) PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORKS

No ground-breaking works in connection with the development hereby approved shall commence unless an archaeological written scheme of investigation (WSI) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority informing how an appropriate programme of archaeological mitigation will be carried out for the ground-breaking works. The WSI shall include details of how the recording and recovery of archaeological resources found within the application site shall be undertaken, and how any updates, if required, to the written scheme of investigation will be provided throughout the implementation of the programme of archaeological works. Should the archaeological works reveal the need for post excavation analysis the development hereby approved shall not be brought into use unless a post excavation research design (PERD) for the analysis, publication and dissemination of results and archive deposition has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority. The PERD shall be carried out in complete accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To safeguard and record the archaeological potential of the area.

(5) ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY

No works in connection to the box pews, including alteration, cleaning or removal, shall commence unless an archaeological written scheme of investigation (WSI) has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the planning authority informing how an appropriate programme of archaeological recording will be carried out on the pews which are to be removed, focusing in particular on the historic graffiti carved on them. The survey shall not be undertaken unless its scope has been approved in writing by the planning authority. The survey must be in a digital format.

Reason: To ensure that a historic record of the pews is made for inclusion in the National Record for the Historic Environment for Scotland and in the local Historic Environment Record.

The Committee heard from Alex Ferguson, Senior Planner, who spoke in furtherance of the application and answered various questions from Members.

The Committee then heard from Dr Bill Harrison and Ms Lynne Deboer who both spoke in support of the proposed application.

The Committee then heard from Mr William Brodgen, who objected to the proposed application.

Finally, the Committee heard from Mr Iain Sneddon on behalf of Scot-ART, who was the applicant for the proposed application.

Councillor Macdonald, seconded by Councillor Boulton, moved a procedural motion:-

That the Committee undertake a site visit before determining the application.

On a division, there voted – for the procedural motion (3) – Councillors Boulton, Farquhar and Macdonald – against the procedural motion (6) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Cooke, Clark, Lawrence and van Sweeden.

As the procedural motion was defeated, the Committee then moved to determine the application.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

          That the application be approved conditionally. 

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

          That the application be refused for the following reasons:-

The removal of a portion of the original boxed pews would cause harm to the special character, architectural and historic interest of the building that was not outweighed by the benefits to be gained by the reuse of the building for the purpose proposed. The proposal would, therefore, be contrary to Policy D6 of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2023, Policy 7 (Historic Assets and Places) of National Planning Framework 4, Historic Environment Policy for Scotland (HEPS) and Historic Environment Scotland’s ‘Managing Change in the Historic Environment’ guidance on ‘Use and Adaptation of Listed Buildings’ and ‘Interiors’.

On a division, there voted – for the motion (7) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Cooke, Clark, Lawrence, Macdonald and van Sweeden – for the amendment (2) – Councillors Boulton and Farquhar.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion and therefore approve the application conditionally. 

Councillor Boulton intimated her dissent against the foregoing decision in accordance with Standing Order 32.8.

-       COUNCILLOR CIARAN MCRAE – Convener