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 following conditions and referring the application to Historic Scotland for planning permission for the internal alterations (including insertion of new stairlifts and extending the War Memorial balcony), demolitions (including the existing gallery roofs, 1925 gallery extension and 1970’s office extension) and extension (including new rooftop gallery extension, roof terraces and education, gallery and support areas extension to the rear of the building) at the Aberdeen Art Gallery, Schoolhill, Aberdeen:-

(1)  Prior to commencement of the following works, a finalised specification, including, where appropriate, larger scale elevation and section drawings, brochure details and samples, shall be submitted to and approved by the planning authority, in consultation with Historic Scotland.  Full details of the repair and restoration works to the Art Gallery buildings (internal and external) including:  details of protective measures for the interior and exterior fabric and features that are to remain in situ during the works; lime mortar specification for repointing of external walls, including a methodology for removal of existing pointing to avoid damage to stonework; mortar mix; protective measures for carbonation stage; details of window and door repairs and repainting, including proposed colour; details of the internal wall, floor and ceiling treatment and finishing, including within the Cowdray Hall and War Memorial Court (inclusive of details of the new memorial panels and new hanging art work/light display); and proposed treatment for retained special architectural features, including decorative frieze on first floor (to include details of storage and repositioning).  (2)  Prior to commencement of the following works, a finalised specification, including, where appropriate, larger scale elevation and section drawings, brochure details and samples, shall be submitted to and approved by the planning authority, in consultation with Historic Scotland.  Full details of any alteration/new works (internal and external) including: 1:20 scale section drawings and plans for the roof terrace and glazed balustrades; Details of any new signage, external lighting, and other new fixtures to be attached to the exterior walls of the building, to include non-ferrous fixings into masonry joints; Larger scale elevation and section drawings for new opening for staircase within north west corner of the Sculpture Court; External stone repair, including details of stone replacement, and samples.  (3)  That no development shall take place within the application site until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work which shall include post-excavation and publication work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved in writing by Aberdeen City Council as planning authority.  (4)  That no development shall take place unless samples of all external finishing materials (including a coloured sample of the copper capping piece for the roof addition) of the development hereby approved has been submitted to, and approved in writing by Aberdeen City Council as planning authority and thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with the details so agreed.

The Committee were also circulated with (1) a report by the Aberdeen City and Shire Design Review Panel in relation to the proposal; and (2) a letter from Historic Scotland regarding the application.

The Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Jean Morrison, MBE:-

That the application be approved, in accordance with the recommendations contained within the report and that an extra condition be added that the downtakings from the internal staircase be preserved so that it could be incorporated into a future project thus preserving it for the City.

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

That the application be refused on the basis of the form and massing of the application, the proposed demolition of the internal staircase and changes to the front entrance façade to the building.

The Vice-Convener moved as an additional amendment, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-

That the application be deferred and instruct officers to enter into discussion with the architect regarding reducing the apparent massing of the new top floor extension as viewed from the public street.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Committee divided firstly between the two amendments.  On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Corall (8) – Councillors Cameron, Corall, Cormie, Greig, Jaffrey, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart and Townson;  for the amendment by the Vice-Convener (7) – The Convener; the Vice-Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Grant, Lawrence, Jean Morrison, MBE and Thomson.

On a division between the motion and the successful amendment by Councillor Corall, there voted:-

For the motion (4) – the Convener; and Councillors Grant, Lawrence and Jean Morrison, MBE; for the amendment by Councillor Corall (9) –Councillors Cameron, Corall, Cormie, Greig, Jaffrey, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Thomson and Townson; declined to vote (2) – the Vice Convener; and Councillor Boulton.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the amendment.

In terms of Standing Order 36(3) the following Councillors requested that the decision above be referred to the Council for final determination:-  the Convener; the Vice-Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Grant, Lawrence and Jean Morrison, MBE.