Agenda item

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

That the Committee express a willingness to approve the application, subject to the conditions listed below, in respect of planning permission for the proposed part demolition of the existing vacant retail premises and the erection of a new 9-storey building as a hotel, including a rooftop restaurant and separate bar/ restaurant at 363 Union Street/ 50 Langstane Place, Aberdeen, but to withhold the issue of the consent document until such time as a developer’s contribution has been secured towards work to the core paths/ public realm improvements in the area and the strategic transport fund:-

(1)  That no development shall take place unless a scheme, including submission of materials samples, detailing all external finishing materials to the roof and walls of the development hereby approved has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the planning authority and thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with the details so agreed.  (2)  That full details, including elevational and cross sectional drawings, shall be submitted to show all works, including repair and cleaning works, to the remaining fabric of the listed building.  These shall include where the new build joins the existing building, the ground floor frontage to Langstane Place and the replacement shop front on Union Street.  Any revolving door shall be of such a height that its mechanism shall be hidden behind the fascia level.  That all works, as so agreed must be implemented fully in accordance with such details.  These shall be in accordance with the approved plans, or others subsequently approved and that none of the building shall be used unless the Union Street frontage is available for use as the main entrance to the building, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the planning authority.  (3)  That the development hereby granted planning permission shall not be occupied unless the cycle storage facilities as shown on the approved drawings, or others subsequently approved have been provided.  (4)  That the development hereby approved shall not be occupied 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 accordance with the principles set out in the Transport Assessment (TA) by Cameron and Ross July 2013, or other TA as subsequently approved.  (5)  That none of the development shall be brought into use unless the footpath on Langstane Place has been reinstated in accordance with a scheme to be agreed in writing with the planning authority, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the planning authority.  (6)  That servicing shall take place only from Langstane Place, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the planning authority.  (7)  That no window replacement shall take place unless there has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the planning authority a full survey of the windows showing that they are beyond repair.  Any replacement frames shall match those existing and shall be implemented fully in accordance with details, including cross sections, submitted to and approved in writing by, the planning authority.  (8)  That the building hereby approved shall not be occupied unless a scheme detailing compliance with the Council's 'Low and Zero Carbon Buildings' supplementary guidance has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority, and any recommended measures specified within that scheme for the reduction of carbon emissions have been implemented in full.  (9)  That the use hereby granted planning permission shall not take place unless provision has been made within the application site for refuse storage and disposal in accordance with a scheme which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority.  (10)  That no part of this development shall take place unless a detailed assessment of the likely sources and levels of noise arising within, and those audible outwith, the premises has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the planning authority.  The noise assessment shall be carried out by a suitably qualified independent noise consultant.  All noise attenuation measures identified by the noise assessment which are required in order to prevent any adverse impacts on the amenity of residents in the surrounding area shall be installed prior to commencement of the use hereby approved, unless the planning authority has given prior written approval for a variation.  (11)  That the existing Bruce Miller’s clock shall be refurbished and replaced on the Union Street frontage of the premises in accordance with a scheme to be submitted to, and agreed in writing with the planning authority.  The hotel shall not be brought into use unless the clock is in place, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the planning authority.

The Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Corall:-

That the application be approved in accordance with the recommendation contained within the report, with the addition of the following condition – that the development shall not be occupied unless showers/lockers have been provided and made available to hotel staff who cycle to work; that condition (11) be amended to stop at “unless the clock is in place” and that the Green Travel Plan be amended to include the provision that the hotel park visitors’ cars for them.

Councillor Cormie moved as an amendment, seconded by the Vice-Convener:-

That the application be refused on the grounds of lack of parking associated with the application.

On a division there voted:- for the motion (11) – the Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Cameron, Corall, Grant, Jaffrey, Lawrence, Jean Morrison, MBE, Samarai, Thomson and Townson.  For the amendment (4) – The Vice-Convener; and Councillors Cormie, Greig and Jennifer Stewart.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.