PROPOSALS for a new building for cars sales and a workshop at a site at Broomhill Road Kintore by C & M McDonald, Oldmeldrum was deferred by members of the Garioch Area Committee to allow members to visit the site.
The application is recommended for refusal by Aberdeenshire Council's Planning and Environmental Services for reasons including that the land is not designated for employment use, the building on the site was approved for agricultural and not employm
ent use, and that the site lies within a functional flood plain.
The application received 12 letters of support, noting that it was a well established family business which would benefit from moving to the proposed location.
Members of the Garioch Area Committee will now visit the proposed site prior to considering application at their next scheduled meeting.
• An application for erection of a new shop with a first floor flat at Victoria Street, Inverurie, was given the go-ahead at the meeting.
The application, by Margaret and Arthur Lee, Dunury, St Jame's Place, Inverurie, will see the erection of a ground floor retail unit with a two-bedroomed flat above in vacant land next to Royal British Legion.
A letter of representation had been received raising concerns regarding loss of light and privacy and also increased traffic congestion.
Area Planning Officer Lesley Tierney told the committee members that Planning and Environmental Services had noted concerns regarding overshadowing but did not think that the new building would have much impact. She noted that of the upstairs windows, one was purely for providing light for a stairwell and the two upper floor windows at the rear mainly overlooked a roof below them and garden ground beyond. She did note that the distance between the windows and the neighbouring property was just short of the recommended distance, but that planners were happy with this in this case.
Inverurie and District Councillor Mike Raeburn said he had no great problems with the application although he did have concerns regarding the overshadowing, but that he was quite happy to recommend it for approval.
Fellow Inverurie and District Councillor Bryan Stuart raised concerns regarding the window for the stairwell overlooking neighbouring property and asked if this could be replaced by a roof light instead.
East Garioch Councillor Fergus Hood noted his concern about the distance between the windows and the neighbouring property being just short of the required distance, and said that it was important that the committee did not make a habit of accepting this, but in this instance he would agree with the application.
The committee agreed to delegate authority to grant planning permission to the Head of Development Management and Building Standards subject to conditions and also that the stairwell window would be replaced with a roof light.
