Join us for our regular weekly look at some of the latest planning applications lodged with Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils.
This week, we sink our fangs into plans for a permanent reminder of Count Dracula’s connection to Cruden Bay.
There are proposals to turn former offices in Aberdeen city centre, some left empty for more than a decade, into new homes.
And we discover that Farmfoods’ plans to create a new supermarket in Inverurie haven’t quite been welcomed with open arms…
Plans to bulldoze ‘simple’ Cults house to make way for plush new home
Firstly, plans have been formed to tear down a home in the Pitfodels area of Aberdeen and build a grand replacement.
The building was part of the Menzies estate for 300 years, and was handed over to trustees following John Menzies’ death in 1843.
But now owners Mr and Mrs Mark Milne want to knock down 16 Westerton Road – which architects say is “relatively simple in form” and has been altered over the years.
They say the new building, “of similar height and colour”, will represent little in the way of change.
But if approved, it will “take a different form” to make the most of the expansive views from its elevated position.
Design images reveal how the large two-storey replacement would have a roof terrace overlooking the expansive grounds.
Westerton Road resident David McKay has already written to the council in support of the development, “highly commending” the architecture.
But Sandy Alexander, of Craigievar Place, believes the building’s links to the historic Westerton of Pitfodels estate mean it should be spared the wrecking ball.
He said: “It would be a sad day if the council allow it to be demolished.”
Huntly car parts shop will become new flat
Aberdeenshire Council has approved plans to turn Autospares of Huntly, on Duke Street, into a new flat.
Blueprints put forward by Avril Morrison show how the store will be transformed into a shower room and bedroom, with the shop becoming the sitting room, dining area and kitchen.
German Doner Kebab plans for Union Street move forward
German Doner Kebab’s proposals have now progressed, with the firm unveiling the floor plans.
They show how the empty space will be transformed with stools at the window facing onto the Granite Mile, various tables and booths and a special area for Deliveroo collections.
German Doner Kebab is hoped to boost the struggling city centre.
The chain has branches in Saudi Arabia, Toronto, New York and all over the UK.
Westhill dog walkers get behind plans to turn field into canine exercise park
Westhill resident Evelyn Ewen is seeking permission to turn former agricultural land at Bishopdams Road into a dog exercise park.
The space, which is already up and running, is rented out on an exclusive use basis to customers keen to walk their dogs, train puppies, or simply allow their pets to have a run about “with no worries about other dogs being around”.
Planning papers state: “Since the devastation of the storms in the last few months, customers have chosen to book the dog park instead of their usual forest walk while the forests are made safe.”
Eight people have already written to the council supporting the plans.
New tattoo parlour in north-east town
Meanwhile, in Banff, a tattooist has inked a new deal to take over a former town centre bakery.
As revealed in Planning Ahead in February, Barbara Begun applied to convert the former Granny Bakes into her own shop.
Aberdeenshire Council has now given the proposal its blessing.
In a Facebook post, the independent business encouraged locals to spread the word about the new venue.
Bed and breakfast to become family home
A former Granite City hospitality venue will stop offering visitor accommodation under proposals now sealed by Aberdeen City Council.
Montana Guest House, at 302 Great Western Road, has previously doubled up as both a home and a commercial enterprise.
Now owner Sheena Brown has been granted permission to use it fully as a family residence.
Bon Accord Crescent offices will be turned into luxury flats
An office block on Bon Accord Crescent in Aberdeen will be turned into upmarket new flats.
The plans for the B-listed Archibald Simpson building, lodged in December, have now been approved by the council.
Applicants, the City Restoration Project, will turn it into six two-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom penthouse flat, spread across four floors.
How would you fancy living above Molly Malone’s?
Elsewhere in the city centre, long-abandoned offices above a Union Street pub could soon become four new apartments.
The properties would be accessed by a door next to the Molly Malone’s entrance, which is currently sealed off, under proposals submitted by Northern Irish developers GA Parke and Sons Ltd.
The flats would be spread out across the first and second floors.
The space has been vacant for 14 years and funding has recently been pledged to bring it up to scratch.
Molly Malones is open until midnight most nights and 1am on Friday and Saturday, and regularly stages live music, so the plans may raise some eyebrows.
As things progress, the developers say a noise assessment will be carried out…
Dracula plaque at Cruden Bay
Plans to mark the 125th anniversary of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with a plaque in Cruden Bay have been put approved.
The tribute will be fixed to the wall of the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, where the writer stayed while penning the horror classic.
The plaque is just part of the celebrations, with the Irish author’s great-grandnephew, Dacre Stoker, visiting this summer on a tour of sites said to have influenced the legendary novel.
He said: “It was during his long walks along the beach of Cruden Bay and on to Whinnyfold where all of Bram’s earlier inspiration, notes and research came together.”
Dream home near Knockhall Castle
Further along the north-east coast, plans are underway to create a modern new home in the shadow of the 16th Century Knockhall Castle.
Old farming buildings at the site, on the outskirts of Newburgh, have already been flattened in preparation.
Documents submitted to Aberdeenshire Council explain that the proposed house has been “inspired by a contemporary take on traditional agricultural building forms”.
Architects Brown and Brown say the single-storey home will be built in a way to “maximise” the stunning views from the hillside.
Blueprints indicate the home will have four bedrooms in one block, linked to the rest of the property in another.
There would be terraces at the front and back and a double garage.
These design pictures offer a glimpse into how the home would look:
Knockhall Castle was built by Lord Sinclair of Newburgh in 1565, but was gutted by a fire in the 1700s.
Jamie Fleeman, the Laird of Udny’s fool, is credited with saving the lives of his employers when the blaze broke out – even though he “initially did not attempt to rouse anyone he disliked”.
‘A heck of an eyesore!’
Finally, we check in on plans for a new Farmfoods in the heart of Inverurie.
But since the proposals were lodged less than a month ago, more than 50 locals have given the scheme the cold shoulder.
One of the first to offer a frosty reception was Kate Barrie.
She said: “With Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Tesco I don’t believe we need another supermarket. And especially not Farmfoods in my opinion.
“Also that would be a heck of an eyesore.”
‘Ugly’ building not wanted
Ian Waterston suggested Inverurie is “extremely short of public space such as gardens”, and the space should be used for that.
Ashley Pollard added: “The land could be better used for cafés or entertainment such
as a small cinema (like the arc in Peterhead for example).
“We do not need another bargain food retailer!”
And an unimpressed Richard Freeman said: “The design is ugly.”
Comments will close on Thursday, April 28, with councillors deciding its fate in the coming months.
You can inspect, support or object to all of the plans featured:
Autospares of Huntly to become flat
Newburgh home at Knockhall Castle
