Welcome to our weekly round-up of the latest planning applications lodged across the north-east.
This week, we detail the saga of Aberdeen’s Silverburn House, a huge office block built at the height of the oil boom and demolished decades later to avoid a huge business rates bill.
The council has now approved developers’ plans to create a 119-home “gateway community” on the rubble-strewn Bridge of Don site.
Elsewhere, a new mental health recovery centre in the middle of the city has also been given the go-ahead, to help deal with a looming crisis coming out of the pandemic.
But first, it seems the owner of a famous Banff shop could stumble upon some ancient relics as he sets out on his latest venture…
Could Banff holiday homes be built over buried treasure?
Plans have been formed for three new holiday lodges on the Hill of Doune, overlooking Banff bay.
The scheme, for a patch of “garden ground” just south of Banff Bridge on the Macduff side, has been put forward by Spotty Bag Shop owner Des Cheyne.
Each of the holiday homes would have two bedrooms, a large kitchen and living area, and its own driveway.
However, the council’s archaeology department has informed Mr Cheyne about the potential for treasure to be unearthed during the work…
Council archaeologist Clare Herbert said the proposed site is adjacent to the spot where a Bronze Age cinerary urn was dug up in the 19th century.
The 1864 discovery, made while work was being carried out to widen the nearby bridge, is one of several in the area.
The historian said contractors should be made aware of their legal obligations should they stumble upon any exciting finds.
She said: “There is still some potential for previously unrecorded archaeology (including human remains) to survive in this area.
“The developer has a legal requirement, under the laws of bona vacantia to report to the Treasure Trove Unit any objects or artefacts found during development works.”
The discovery of skeletons would not prohibit development, but might cause “minor delay”.
Dilapidated Mearns steading could become three homes
Meanwhile, the new owners of the empty Allardice Farm on the outskirts of Inverbervie want to replace a rickety old steading with three plush family homes.
Each property would have four bedrooms and a vast open-plan living area across the ground floor.
Acting for applicant John Forbes, Cowie Architectural Services says the scheme “will greatly improve the visual appearance of the area”.
They say the steading is derelict, having been “disused for some time”.
Banchory beauty salon becoming dental surgery
A former beautician in the centre of Banchory could soon be taken over by Deeside Dental Care.
The old Love Beauty base at 1 Raemoir Road has previously been put on the market for £110,000.
Deeside Dental Care currently has premises at 75 High Street in Banchory, and this new facility would have four consulting rooms.
Aberdeen guesthouse being turned into home
The Angel Islington guesthouse in Aberdeen could soon be turned into a large home.
It comes after the building was put on the market for £350,000.
The Ferryhill guesthouse, named after a landmark in London, has 11 rooms.
It has been closed for some time, having latterly operated as rental accommodation for companies.
Applicant Catherine Smith, from Auchnagatt, is behind the scheme to reinvent the three-storey building.
King George VI bridge granite being removed
Changes are in store for an Aberdeen bridge with royal connections.
The Queen Mother opened the King George VI bridge in 1941, her husband who it was named after by her side.
Just a few weeks ago, the Queen’s cortege crossed it as the late monarch left Aberdeen for the final time.
In August, we revealed cost-cutting plans to remove the granite setts from the 80-year-old crossing as part of a package of repairs.
And now Aberdeen City Council planning chiefs have signed off on the changes, saying it won’t impact the “character” of the B-listed Great Southern Road structure.
It will mean the scores of bricks are stripped from the central reservation, apart from the first 10m at each end.
Any surplus stones will be kept in council storage, with concrete slabs being laid in their place.
Green light for Aberdeen mental health recovery centre
Plans to turn Aberdeen’s Queen Mother House into a recovery centre have been approved by the council.
The VSA charity will convert the Claremont Street building as it battles to cope with growing demand.
The Aberdeen-based social care body says the 16-bedroom complex will be vital, with its recently opened Holburn Street facility already “at capacity”.
VSA bought the building from the British Red Cross and the transformation will cost £800,000.
John Booth, chief operating officer, previously told us anxiety issues have spiralled since lockdown.
Blueprints indicate the revamped building would have a dining room, lounges and six bedrooms on the ground floor along with 10 more and an extra lounge on the first floor.
Aberdeen City Council approved the scheme unconditionally.
New ‘deer larder’ needed near Huntly
Forestry and Land Scotland is seeking permission for a new “deer larder” on land near its depot north of Huntly.
The unit, just off the B9022 road to Portsoy, will be used to store the carcasses of culled animals.
The organisation says the existing facility is regularly full due to “necessary increased culling in the area”.
If approved, it will be 9.9m long, 3m high and 3.5m wide.
It will be divided into a “preparation room” and a chiller where bodies are stored prior to collection or sale.
Bakery expansion plans in Inverurie
JG Ross began life in Premnay 60 years ago, with a simple bakery.
Over the years it has expanded massively, with shops all over the north-east.
And the firm has now formed plans for a new storage warehouse at its Inverurie headquarters.
If approved, it will take up an area currently used as nine parking spaces.
The 641sq m structure would be built in the yard, with plenty of room to keep thousands of butteries before they make their way to bakeries from Forres to Braemar.
Affordable Bridge of Don flats approved
Plans to turn former business premises near the Bridge of Don into a block of six affordable flats have been approved by Aberdeen City Council.
The proposals for the building, on the east of Ellon Road, will see the former bases of the Leip-Air heating firm and KW Contractors converted.
The Aberdeen Osteopathy Clinic, also part of the complex, will remain as it is.
Under the scheme, put forward by KW Contractors, it will now become social housing.
There will be one two-bedroom flat on the ground floor, two one-bed units on the first floor and an extension will be built on the second storey so it can accommodate two flats with one bed and another with two.
Do you have any memories of Silverburn House? Let us know in our comments section below
Demolished Silverburn House site to finally see new development
Silverburn House in Bridge of Don had been an onshore fixture in the North Sea oil and gas industry for decades.
But the offices became vacant in 2018 when Baker Hughes relocated staff to Dyce.
And in 2019 it came to be a sad emblem of the decline of the once-booming sector.
Having been sold for a bargain basement £1m, a fraction of its £17m value just a few years earlier, it was torn down by its new owners.
A political row ensued, with the Tories blaming “ruinous” business rates as the diggers moved in.
This drone footage shows the massive demolition project in action:
After the building was bulldozed, new owners Parklands View submitted plans for a major development on the land.
They envisioned more than a mix of 119 houses and flats and “potentially” shops, offices and food and drink venues on the Claymore Drive site.
The mammoth scheme has now been rubber-stamped by Aberdeen City Council.
Aerial Picture of Silverburn House pic.twitter.com/5GhWngn3mr
— bestviewedfromabove (@Bestviewedfroma) September 20, 2019
Supporting documents lodged by the Space Solutions architects say the homes will form “a sustainable new community with unique identity”.
The construction of this so-called “gateway community” will cost £20m.
Council tax on the properties should net the local authority an extra £238,000 every year.
How will new Silverburn House development look?
There will be a central “village green” acting as the heart of the community, with small shops and possibly a cafe to act as “a focal point”.
There are even plans for a gymnastics training facility and growing spaces.
And concept images show how the perimeter of the massive sprawl will be lined with trees.
Approving the development, council officers acknowledged that Aberdeen has “an abundant supply of available employment land”, and will not miss this site if it’s turned into housing.
You can see this week’s plans for yourself using these links:
Queen Mother House recovery centre
Silverburn House plans
Conversation