Plans have been unveiled for a new farm shop and cafe in Cove Bay, Aberdeen.
This and a proposed new boutique hotel near Oban are among the latest farm-related planning applications to north and north-east councils.
But first to Aberdeenshire and Albert Warrander wants to build a new home next to Wellsforest Farm, Longhaven, near Peterhead.
He’s nearing retirement and aims to pass the management of the farm on to his son, Stephen.
A business statement for planning officials says Albert needs to relocate to somewhere nearby to ensure the farm “continues its successful operation during the handover”.
The document adds: “Due to working hours going from early in the morning to late into the night, it is imperative Mr Warrander is on site to be able to react to the ever-changing demands.
“Following on from the succession is it anticipated Mr Warrander will continue to assist his son in a reduced capacity.”
Another supporting document says: “No suitable alternative residential accommodation is currently available, either on the open market or on the applicant’s land.”
Ruined sawmill could be transformed into new workshop for Kildrummy Estates
Meanwhile, Kildrummy Estates wants to convert and extend a ruined sawmill next to Culsh Farmhouse in Kildrummy, near Alford, into a workshop and staff accommodation.
LDN Architects says: “It is unclear when the building was last used as a sawmill, or indeed, what kind of sawmill it was.
“In more recent times it has been used as a farm storage building, until it was deemed unsafe and is now completely unused, roofless and in a derelict condition. The interior of the mill is unsafe to enter, and its timber structure is wholly rotten and beyond economic repair.”
Consultation documents have been submitted to Aberdeenshire Council for a new 200-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) on land surrounding Kevin Gilbert’s Womblehill Farm near Kintore.
BESS schemes are an increasingly common sight in rural parts of Scotland.
The Womblehill project would consist of battery storage enclosures, power conversion systems, transformers, electrical infrastructure, foundations, an access track, crane hardstanding and spares containers.
A grid link would be via an onsite 132 kilovolt substation, connecting to Kintore Substation via underground cable.
‘Crucial’ energy infrastructure
In its planning statement on behalf of green energy firm RE Projects Development, consultant Pegaus Group says: “This form of development is crucial in enabling the continued rollout of zero-carbon energy and is vital to ensuring that Scotland’s ambitious net-zero emissions target is met.”
The proposals have changed as a direct result of a public consultation and feedback.
Locals had raised concerns about potential noise from the BESS during both the construction and operational phases, safety, traffic disruption and visual impact.
Latest Moray planning applications
Up in Moray, Mr D McLeod has submitted a fresh planning application for a new home at Shougle Farm, Birnie.
And Crown Estate Scotland wants to erect a silage or draff storage facility at Auchnascraw Farm, Chapeltown, Ballindalloch.
Trista Shanks is seeking planning consent for a caravan and attached wooden utility building at Beechtree Farm, Ryeriggs, Keith for a further three years.
Further north, Duncan MacArthur is seeking Highland Council’s support for a new home near Easter Galcantray Croft, Cawdor.
And RSPB Scotland wants to excavate three parcels of land near Invertromie Farmhouse, Kingussie, to provide spring feeding habitat for breeding wading birds.
Flow Country peatland restoration
There are also proposals for a peatland restoration scheme at Armadale Farm North, near Thurso.
Landowner Joyce Campbell is collaborating with environmental consultant Flow Country Restoration on the project.
It is part of the Flow Country Partnership (FCP) Green Finance Initiative, which aims to scale peatland restoration in Caithness and Sutherland.
FCP partners include NatureScot, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Environmental Research Institute, RSPB and North Highland Initiative.
Darren Hart wants to build a new home near Smithfield Farmhouse, Tomatin.
And Steven McClenaghan plans to build a house and outbuilding a house and outbuilding next to Belivat Farm, Nairn.
The outbuilding is to be used as “garage space along with a small game larder”.
There are also plans in the pipeline for homes on two plots at Swordale Farm, Evanton.
What’s happening in Argyll & Bute?
Meanwhile, Argyll & Bute Council is mulling plans for a new croft house at White Hart Parks, Kildalton, on Islay, and also an agricultural building at Seacroft Aros, on Mull.
Elsewhere in the region, there are plans for a “sustainable and ecologically sensitive” new boutique hotel and restaurant on farmland near Oban.
Landowner Lupi Moll already runs award-winning bothies, his Inverlonan eco-tourism business, on the shores of Loch Nell.
There’s an “off-grid dining experience” based there too.
The proposed new venture would be “deliberately small in scale”, comprising nine bedrooms and a 20-cover restaurant.
A supporting statement says the Ballygowan Farm steading currently comprises a “vacant, decaying, boarded-up farmhouse”, a vacant bothy and a cluster of three
“disused, and slowly crumbling, livestock barns set around a concrete courtyard”.
New farm shop planned for Cove Bay
Back in Aberdeen, Roy Jamieson, 37, has run a farm shop in Cove Bay ever since he bought land at the age of 16.
He began planting fruit and vegetables, along with his father. They originally sold to family and friends before opening a small shop to sell to local customers every Sunday.
A supporting statement with the application to Aberdeen City Council says: “Jamieson’s Farm shop has grown and is now very much a family business, with Roy’s
wife, and their two young children involved in the day to day running of the 30-acre farm.
“In 2014 Roy built his own fishing boat, which he fished out of Cove Harbour allowing a new range of products to be added to the shop.
Roy needed a bigger boat
“He has now moved on to a bigger boat at Aberdeen Harbour, catching crab, lobster and whelks which are also available to buy in the shop.
“The newest venture of the farm has been moving from just homegrown vegetables to include livestock, with the business now selling their own home-reared pork and free-range eggs.”
The Jamiesons are now looking for bigger premises, so they can extend their opening hours, display the full range of produce available and add a cafe.
They’ve earmarked a site on Seaview Terrace which is home to their existing Sundays-only shop.
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