Minutes:
The Forum had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, on a submission of a Proposal of Application Notice by Telereal Trillium, for a major redevelopment to form primarily residential units, approximately 140, including demolition and other ancillary development with car parking, access, landscaping and infrastructure at 54 Gallowgate, Greyfriars House, Aberdeen, 191321.
The report advised that the application site comprised a 3 storey and basement “C” shaped vacant office building and surface car park situated on the eastern side of Gallowgate, which lay to the north of a late 20th Century flatted development on Littlejohn Street and immediately to the south of the Gallowgate public car park.
The report provided a description of the site and noted that there were three indicative options for the proposed redevelopment of the site that had been put forward and they were:-
The report stated that all three options would retain the existing vehicular access taken off Gallowgate which served a surface car park to the rear of the building. An element of car parking was proposed to be retained in all three options, with a landscaped communal amenity area provided on a deck built above the car park.
The Forum heard from Alex Ferguson, Planning Officer, who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application. Mr Ferguson advised that the application site was within the city centre boundary however it lay outwith the City Centre Masterplan boundary. Mr Ferguson explained that as the application site was within the city centre, the Affordable Housing Waiver would apply and should the applicant wish to utilise it, no affordable housing would be required as part of the development, should the application be submitted before 30 June 2020 and determined prior to 31 December 2020. Otherwise the usual 25% requirement would apply.
Mr Ferguson explained that as part of the application, the applicant had been advised that the following information would need to accompany the formal submission:-
Finally, Mr Ferguson provided details on the drop in event which was held on 10 October 2019 from 4 -7.30pm at Greyfriars House, which had the three proposed options on display for members of the public to examine and provide feedback.
The Forum then heard from Sam Rosenkranz, Telereal Trillium, Marshall Inglis – CDA (Architects) and Richard Slipper, Planning Consultant. Claire Crawford, Savills and Nick Saunders CDA, were also available to answer questions on the proposals.
Mr Rosenkranz explained that they had been handed back the government building as it was no longer in use from the DVLA and had been on the open market for two years without any significant interest to buy. As a result they had decided to apply for a change of use for the building and looked at various options. Mr Slipper advised that they were keen to deliver this project and to repurpose the site and to embark on city living. He noted there would be challenges in delivering the proposal and highlighted the positive benefit of the Affordable Housing Waiver. Mr Slipper also explained that they hoped to deliver the project by 2021 and aimed to meet with the City Centre Community Council and also the George Street Community Council in due course to discuss the proposals.
The Forum then heard from Marshall Inglis who provided details on the three various proposals. Mr Inglis explained that CDA Architects had a history and positive experience of delivering housing schemes in various city centres and they aimed to respect the history of the Gallowgate and highlighted that the visual amenity of the site would be very important. He explained that they would pay attention to the city centre masterplan, although it was outwith the boundary of the city centre masterplan. He noted that they had looked at the constraints and opportunities of the site and would retain the original vehicle access. The three available options were as a result of continuous dialogue with Council officers.
Members then asked a number of questions of both the applicant and the case officer and the following information was noted:-
The report recommended:-
That the Forum –
(a) Note the key issues identified;
(b) If necessary, seek clarification on any particular matters; and
(c) Identify relevant issues which they would like the applicant to consider and address in any future application.
The Forum resolved:-
(ii) to request that the applicant investigate the potential of combined heat and power for the site;
(iii) to note that the applicant would discuss the external steps with the local community and look at this area in the workshop that was planned; and
(iv) to thank the presenters for their informative presentation and to encourage continuing dialogue with Council officers and also local residents.
- Councillor Boulton, Convener
Supporting documents: