Agenda item

Reference Number - 130488

The Committee had before it a report by the Head of Planning and Sustainable Development which recommended:-

That the Committee approve the application in respect of planning permission for a change of use from Class 11 (Assembly and Leisure) to Class 1 (Shops), non-food goods mixed between bulky and general comparison goods, including coffee shop and the linking of both units to form one single unit, external alterations to facilitate the linking of the units and the formation of new ‘shopfront’ openings and replacement of solid canopies with translucent type glazing, subject to the following conditions:-

(1)  That the unit hereby granted planning permission shall not be occupied unless a scheme detailing cycling storage provision has been submitted to, and approved in writing by the planning authority, and thereafter implemented in full accordance with said scheme;  (2)  That no development shall take place unless there has been submitted to and approved in writing a detailed Travel Plan, which outlines sustainable measures to deter the use of the private car, in particular single occupant trips and provides detailed monitoring arrangements, a revised mode share, modal split targets and associated penalties for not meeting targets;  (3)  That prior to the commencement of development the applicant shall submit details to the planning authority for the approval of the upgrading of the bus stop on Links Road. The development shall not be occupied unless the proposed upgrading works have been implemented in accordance with said approved scheme; (4) That, except as the planning authority may otherwise agree in writing, all deliveries to the approved use shall take place between the hours of 11pm and 6am;  (5)  That this consent relates solely to the use of the land and buildings for Class 1 retail use. The use hereby approved will have a minimum of 50% of the approved overall net floor area (totalling 6,900 square metres), which shall be used for bulky comparison goods, in addition the remainder of the use, apart from the ancillary café, shall be for general comparison goods and should not include food sales;  (6)  That all planting, seeding and turfing comprised in the approved scheme of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting season following the completion of the development and any trees or plants which within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a size and species similar to those originally required to be planted, or in accordance with such other scheme as may be submitted to and approved in writing for the purpose by the planning authority;  (7)  That prior to the commencement of development, details shall be submitted to, and approved in writing, by the planning authority in relation to the surface materials to be used for the upgrading of the footpath on the Esplanade; and (8) That prior to the commencement of development, an updated floor plan shall be submitted to, and approved in writing, by the planning authority providing details of lockers and shower facilities for the use of staff within the proposed use.

The Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Cormie:-

That the application be approved in accordance with the recommendation contained within the report, and that officers investigate the feasibility of increasing the number of short stay cycle parking spaces.

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

That the application be refusedon the grounds that a change of use from Class 11 (Assembly and Leisure) to Class 1 (Shops) was a retrograde step and was not in keeping with the surrounding area in particular the Beach Esplanade.

On a division, there voted:-   for the motion  (12)  -  the Convener; and Councillors Cormie, Lesley Dunbar, Greig, Jaffrey, Lawrence, MacGregor, Jean Morrison, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Thomson and Townson;   for the amendment  (3)  -  Councillors Boulton, Corall and Finlayson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.