Welcome to our weekly round-up of the latest planning applications lodged across the north-east.
Every Monday morning we look at the new developments that could bring changes big and small to our communities in the weeks and months ahead.
This week, there are plans to bring the world’s largest Ford dealership group to Aberdeen on the flattened remains of an industrial estate.
Meanwhile, there’s a scheme to turn a flat into a takeaway in Inverurie and proposals to give a former Portlethen hairdresser a new look as a cafe.
New ventilation system at 1950s university building
As the setting for exams, Aberdeen University’s Butchart Recreation Centre will hold a mixture of memories for generations of students.
Campus chiefs have now been given permission for some changes to the building, which was latterly used as an asymptomatic Covid testing centre.
They will now install a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system on the roof, along with CCTV cameras and new lighting.
The four cameras will be dotted around each side of the building, with the LED floodlighting on the side of the large main hall.
Guesthouse plans approved despite neighbours’ concerns
Meanwhile, an office building on the Breda Estate outside Alford will be turned into a new guesthouse.
David and Sarah Baxter, who live there at The Home Farm development, will turn the building into an AirBnB-style short-term holiday let.
It is the sole business unit in a converted steading block, and some of those in the four other properties raised objections to the change.
One neighbour, Robert Whalley, wrote to Aberdeenshire Council with worries about how many people could stay there – with permission sought for seven parking spaces alongside the one-bedroom house.
Another, Chris Munro, said it would “result in people coming and going at all hours of the day, certainly in the evenings”.
He sought assurances that the guesthouse would be limited to two people at any one time.
Aberdeenshire Council granted permission for the change for three years.
Peterhead’s coastal caravan site expansion approved
With more and more people choosing to holiday in Scotland, Peterhead’s Lido caravan park recently launched expansion plans.
Aberdeenshire Council has now granted permission for nine new pitches for caravans, along with extra grassy space for camping at the scenic seaside spot.
Jamieson and Carry wants name up in lights
Jamieson and Carry has been one of Aberdeen city centre’s most famous shops for some time.
And now the upmarket jeweller has launched plans to have its name up in lights on the side of the Union Street building, with new illuminated lettering.
Blueprints sent to the council show how the new “shimmering gold” lettering would be positioned overlooking Union Bridge.
Portlethen hairdresser could become new cafe
Aberdeen-based Mehmet Satilmis has formed plans to convert the former Cuddles hairdresser in Portlethen into a cafe.
The Rowanbak Court premises closed suddenly in May after decades in the Aberdeenshire town, little more than a year after a revamp.
Mr Satilmis, who runs Shelter Coffee in Old Aberdeen, would operate it between 9am and 10pm for takeaways – with the cafe closing at 6pm.
Scroll back and forth to see the proposed changes:
Inverurie home could be town’s newest takeaway
Elsewhere, Inverurie’s Moi Lee Chan has tendered plans to turn a ground floor flat into a new town centre takeaway.
The 53 West High Street eatery would be another option in pretty close vicinity…
Nearby there’s the Daawat and Rajpoot Indian restaurants, Marmaris kebab shop, Vietnam Saigon and the Tikka Tandoori Take-Away next door.
Blueprints sent to Aberdeenshire Council demonstrate how two bedrooms would become the kitchen and the counter area.
Scroll back and forth to see all the changes:
Invercauld Arms canopy plans
Last week, Planning Ahead detailed plans to turn the former Craigard Care Home in Ballater into staff accommodation for workers at Braemar’s Fife Arms hotel and Invercauld Arms.
Now the owners of both, Artfarm Ltd, have formed new plans for the latter venue – which is currently under refurbishment.
They are seeking permission for a new canopy to be put up next to the ornately carved Invercauld Fountain outside the venue.
A concept image outlines how the canopy would look.
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Former Tyseal base to become new car showroom
Knight Property Group bought the former Tyseal base at the West Tullos Industrial Estate in Aberdeen last February, promptly demolishing the 20 “dilapidated, outdated” units there.
Asbestos-ridden office and industrial units like Phoenix House and the Winfex Centre (the former home of the Remove-Rehome-Recycle charity) are now just piles of rubble.
And the property firm responsible has lodged plans to turn the 5.2 acre Craigshaw Crescent site into a TrustFord car showroom, with a workshop.
Aurora Planning, on behalf of Knight Frank, says the scheme would “bring the world’s
largest Ford dealer group to Aberdeen with a much sought-after offering”.
They also say it would “contribute to the long-term vitality of the West Tullos Industrial Estate as a whole by giving a new use to a currently vacant brownfield site”.
Aurora adds that there is an “over-supply” of industrial and business premises in Aberdeen, with “no realistic prospect” of the site being sold or let for such use again.
If approved, the dealership would offer new and used cars and commercial vehicles, aftersales services, parts sales and a smart repair bay.
And as well as “increasing the availability of hybrid and electric vehicles in the city” it would create dozens of jobs.
The developers say the site would employ 16 qualified technicians plus four apprentices, 20 workers in servicing and sales and 15 back office/supporting staff and managers.
TrustFord has 65 dealerships across the UK but this would be its first in Scotland.
Cove Rangers want new stands to fit in more fans
Nearby, Cove Rangers have lodged plans for two new temporary stands at their Balmoral stadium.
If approved, it would mean extra space for 882 spectators behind each goal – with one for home fans and one for away support.
You can read more here.
‘Unauthorised’ granite blocks were more than just bricks in the wall
Finally, a long-running neighbourhood spat in Old Aberdeen has been resolved.
The council subsequently denied a retrospective planning application for the change – forcing owners to fork out on redoing the work with different coping stones.
At the time, the owner told us the wall needed to “urgently” be saved from collapsing, having been monitored by a structural engineer for two years.
She added: “Unfortunately, the coping bricks could not be saved. Many were broken and they disintegrated when the wall was being dismantled.”
Now, we can confirm the changes neighbours demanded have finally been made.
Feel like supporting any of the plans, using your right to object… Or do you just fancy a look? Follow these links:
Peterhead caravan park expansion
Ford showroom at old Tyseal base
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