Agenda item

Planning Reference – 141441

The documents associated with this application can be found at:-

http://planning.aberdeencity.gov.uk/PlanningDetail.asp?ref=141441

Case Officer – Gavin Evans

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 for the formation of a gypsy traveller transit site comprising six pitches and supporting facilities, subject to a Section 75 agreement requiring transfer of the site ownership to Aberdeen City Council, and subject to the following conditions:-

(1)  Prior to the commencement of any works on site, a detailed scheme for surface water drainage shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter, all work shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the planning authority - to ensure adequate protection of the water environment from surface water runoff; (2)  that no part of the development hereby approved shall be undertaken unless there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority a detailed scheme of site and plot boundary enclosures for the development. No part of the site shall be brought into use unless the said scheme has been implemented in its entirety - in order to ensure that the site is appropriately enclosed and makes use of existing topographical features, such as dry stone dykes, where possible; (3)  that no part of the site shall be occupied for the approved use unless details of external lighting have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the planning authority. Thereafter, the site shall not be brought into use unless the details as agreed have been implemented - in order to ensure that the site is appropriately lit to ensure safe movement but minimise light pollution, as required by the Council's 'Gypsy and Traveller Sites' supplementary guidance; (4)  that no development pursuant to this grant of planning permission shall be undertaken unless proposals for ongoing site management have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the planning authority. Any such proposals should include the following; (a) details of any on-site management, including proposals for any office/security accommodation and staffing thereof, both when the site is occupied and when not in active use; (b) arrangements for sewage disposal and on-site toilet facilities; and (c) details of a local first point of contact ('site manager'), thereafter, all work shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the planning authority - in order to ensure that the development is supported by appropriate long-term management; (5)  that no development pursuant to the planning permission hereby approved shall be carried out unless there has been submitted to and approved in writing for the purpose by the planning authority a further detailed scheme of landscaping for the site, which scheme shall include indications of all existing trees and landscaped areas on the land, and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development, and the proposed areas of tree/shrub planting including details of numbers, densities, locations, species, sizes and stage of maturity at planting - in the interests of the amenity of the area; (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 - in the interests of the amenity of the area; and (7)  that no unit within the development hereby granted planning permission shall be occupied 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 - in order to preserve the amenity of the neighbourhood and in the interests of public health.

The Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Dickson:-

That the application be approved in accordance with the recommendation contained within the report.

The Vice Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-

That the application be refused on the grounds of the close proximity of the site to schools and the residential area; concerns in relation to traffic levels, access and safety; and the lack of comments from the Education Service.

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (10) - the Convener; and Councillors Corall, Cormie, Crockett, Dickson, Lawrence, Jaffrey, Malik, Jean Morrison MBE, and Sandy Stuart; for the amendment (5) - the Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Greig, Jennifer Stewart and Thomson

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.