Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals lodged across the north-east.
This week, we take a look at a freshly approved counselling building in a secluded part of the Aberdeen University campus.
We also showcase plans to tear down the former lifeboat station next to Banff Bridge – but to keep its historic features as part of the new home being built in its place.
And we feature the curious case of the Aberdeen man with a half-completed putting green in his front garden…
But first, there are plans to preserve a small part of Aberdeenshire’s railway past.
Old Dinnet Station could be perfect home for rail buffs
Dinnet Railway Station was opened in October 1866 as part of the Aboyne and Braemar line.
It served generations of passengers until its demise 100 years later under the 1966 Beeching cuts.
The station building then became offices for the Dinnet and Kinord Estate, but has now been empty for more than five years.
Describing it as “vacant and deteriorating”, the Estate says it stands a better chance of being brought back into use as a house than as offices.
Former workspace in the single-storey property would be turned into a bedroom, kitchen and living room under the revamp.
Good news for Berryden bingo fans
The Mecca bingo venue at Aberdeen’s Berryden Retail Park is applying for permission to open up earlier.
It is currently licensed to operate from 10.30am to midnight from Monday to Saturday and from noon to midnight on Sundays.
But now bosses want to change that, opening instead from 1oam between Monday and Saturday, and from 11am to midnight on Sundays.
Curiously, the opening times mentioned on the door are already for these periods…
Mecca Bingo has been operating at Berryden since 1995 and papers sent to the council say customers are “approximately 80% female, and with an average age of 55-60”.
The firm says extending its hours will provide “ample time for customers to socialise and purchase games of bingo before play commences”.
Aberdeen guesthouse becoming home
Nearby, the former Jamaica Guest House on Aberdeen’s Jamaica Street could soon be turned into a home.
Owner Linda Haldane is making the application following the closure of the business.
Oldmeldrum farmhouse to become tearoom
Ardmedden Farmhouse, on the outskirts of Oldmeldrum, will be turned into a new tearoom.
The building, just off the A947 road to Fyvie, is part of the Ardmedden Equestrian complex.
It has been empty for some time, serving only as storage space.
Applicants, the Simmers family, say visitors to their horse centre “regularly” ask for somewhere nearby to grab refreshments.
So they have taken action into their own hands, making use of the “perfect location” on their own land.
Approval came despite fears of ‘potential catastrophe’
However, some neighbours complained about the anticipated increase in traffic.
Timothy Osbourne wrote a letter of objection outlining fears a person “or horse” could be “seriously injured”.
He said: “This road is narrow and has several blind corners.
“There have been a number of collisions and near misses when vehicles have met, or encountered horses which have been ‘spooked’.
The combination of narrow roads, poor visibility, increased traffic and horses (some ridden by novices), all mixed together, is a recipe for potential catastrophe.”
Simon and Clare Wain expressed similar concerns.
And Sarah Pumfrett said “either a kettle and honesty box system or provision of vending machines” could keep visitors nourished without the need for a canteen.
But Aberdeenshire Council stressed it will “generally not be open to the public”, only operating “during events and periods associated with the equestrian business”.
Officers concluded that any increase in vehicles is “unlikely to be significant”.
Steading to be replaced with two new homes beside Meldrum House hotel
Inverurie-based Cairnrowan Homes has been granted permission to demolish a steading and build two new properties next to a well-known hotel, in conjunction with landowners the Meldrum House Estate.
The two new homes will be just 300m away from the plush Meldrum House Hotel.
They will be built to “replicate the built form of a steading”, with a granite wall conveying the “illusion of the remains of a steading building”.
Both properties will have four bedrooms.
Papers submitted by Lippe Architects explain that the houses will be part of a 34-home “enabling” development helping to fund the business.
Former Banff RNLI station to be knocked down
Meanwhile, Aberdeenshire councillors have approved plans to demolish a house next to Banff Bridge.
The building at the Bridgend Garage site started out as a lifeboat station before becoming a shop, and latterly a home.
Garage owner Peter Ingram submitted the plans.
His architect, Michael Ritchie, told the Buchan area committee that carrying out repairs on the old building would be as expensive as starting afresh.
However, he stressed that features from the old lifeboat station would be retained in the “authentic conservation-type refurbishment”.
And the permission was unanimously granted after he said the home is “heading towards becoming uninhabitable” as it is.
New windows at city school
Windows dating back more than 30 years are in line for replacement at Aberdeen’s Ferryhill Primary School.
The £174,000 project will see 32 windows replaced at the Caledonian Place building.
Glamping pods in shadow of Bennachie
People looking to get away from it all with a scenic weekend break could soon have the option of six new glamping pods – with their own hot tubs – at the foot of Bennachie.
Design images show how the pods will be spread across land beside Cumingstone Croft, at Chapel of Garioch.
Planning agents John Wink Design say the “attractive” site will “encourage people to visit rural Aberdeenshire and contribute towards the tourism industry”.
The pods will each face Bennachie, offering stunning views of Mither Tap.
Though it may seem the perfect spot for a group of friends, the units will be spaced out to ensure guests can also enjoy the “secluded” spot with some privacy.
Each pod could sleep up to four people, with an open-plan kitchen and living area.
For anyone tired out after a day of hillwalking, each decking area will have its own hot tub.
John Wink Design added that the site would be run “off-grid”, and be powered by solar panels.
Papers state: “Water butts are to be installed and the collected rainwater can be used for cleaning purposes, washing windows and the watering of planting if required.”
Aberdeen University counselling building approved
Old Aberdeen residents will be noticing the area around the campus coming to life again with students.
But while a time of excitement for many, university can be tough for some young people.
Exam pressures, being away from home for the first time and various other struggles can all have an impact on mental health.
With this in mind, Aberdeen University has now been given permission for a new counselling building in former student accommodation near College Bounds.
It will be open to the public as well as those who attend and work at the university.
One part of the plan sparked the ire of Old Aberdeen Community Council, however.
The institution put up 2m high fencing to the south of the building, to prevent footfall and protect the privacy of those visiting.
A letter of objection from Steve Berry said it could be “significantly detrimental to
visual amenity” in the conservation area.
But local authority officers advised there would be no such harmful impact, as the fence is “not very visible” tucked away in woodland next to the Old Aberdeen Medical Centre.
Councillors unanimously approved the proposal, known as The Bounds, during a recent meeting.
You can learn more about it, or make an appointment, here.
Do you think more should be done to help students? Let us know in our comments section
Solar panels at old halls of residence
With students turning away from catered accommodation, at the start of the 2017 term Aberdeen University’s Crombie Johnston Halls lay empty for the first time in decades.
Since then, plans have been formed to turn the old Johnston halls into a new business school.
And, as part of that project, the university now wants to put solar panels on its roof.
The nine areas of panels would help power the business school, and help the campus as it strives to reach net zero status by 2040.
Putting green row rocks Aberdeen street
The owner of Aberdeen’s 64 Devonshire Road, which was picked up for £270,000 in 2019, has come under fire from the council – and his neighbours…
It all started when he received a nasty surprise when making preparations to practice his hobby…
Resident Mr Harris started work on a new putting green in his front garden earlier this year.
At the same time, he knocked down a wall to create his own driveway.
He was soon visited by a council enforcement officer, who advised him such works would need planning permission.
With the front left in a state of upheaval and the project on hold, he has now submitted paperwork to the local authority.
His agent Jonathan Ritchie, from Thistle Windows, wrote: “The client did not realise the work to the front garden required planning approval.
“The enforcement officer has been on site, and works have ceased pending approval.”
Aberdeen putting green plans a ‘horrible fad’?
Meanwhile, neighbours are now calling for the council to order Mr Harris to put the garden back to how it was before he began the scheme.
Rodrigues Sarinama, who lives nearby, branded the situation an “absolute joke”.
In his letter of objection, he adds: “The installation of cheap plastic grass is an affront to nature and neighbours and a horrible fad.
“Works should stop, they should be ordered to put right what they have done wrong and reinstate the original frontage to the property.”
Kevin Parker, who lives at 60 Devonshire Road, wrote: “The vast majority of the gardens along Devonshire Road are well maintained with plants, grass and are home to insects and other small creatures – exactly what a garden should be, not a tacky plastic putting green.”
You can see this week’s plans for yourself using these links:
Aberdeen University Counselling
Aberdeen putting green project waylaid
Conversation