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 possible new Macduff C0-op, coming shortly after popular plans for an Aldi in the north-east town were approved.
Meanwhile, a proposed glamping site at Bennachie is causing division in the countryside community – with dozens objecting to the perceived intrusion into nature.
And one of Union Street’s many abandoned shops could soon be brought back to life as a new restaurant.
But first, an Aberdeenshire hotel is taking drastic action to secure staff…
New staff flats for plush hotel
The owners of Braemar’s famous Fife Arms and nearby Invercauld Hotel say it’s needed at a time when recruitment woes are at an all-time high.
Now the team behind the Douneside House Hotel, at Tarland, have submitted similar plans.
Estate owners of the MacRobert Trust run the luxury 13-bedroom hotel, and want to build eight one-bedroom flats to provide rent-free accommodation for employees.
Built on vacant land nearby, each unit would be self-contained, with its own kitchen and shower.
Aboyne-based Gerry Robb architects explain the flats are needed due to the nature of the local housing market.
Papers sent to the council state: “There is a lack of low-cost accommodation in the area suitable for staff. This has been an ongoing issue for the Trust for some time.
“Provision of dedicated staff accommodation will aid the Trust in attracting and retaining staff.
“The proposed arrangement is for the accommodation to be occupied by Douneside staff only, with the accommodation to be provided as part of their employment package (ie not rented).”
Bigger, better bird hide planned for St Cyrus
NatureScot is seeking permission to build a replacement bird hide at the St Cyrus nature reserve.
The quango wants to knock down the existing structure south-east of Nether Warburton.
The 3m by 3m hut will be replaced with a 5.4m by 2.71m hide, of roughly the same height – and with a ramp to ensure wheelchair access.
Good news for seasoned birdwatchers and those whose disability may previously have prevented them from taking part.
Plans for former BBQ joint in Ellon
A new Ellon kitchen showroom could soon open at an industrial estate across the road from the Brewdog brewery.
The proposal, lodged by Cooper and McGregor Ltd, is for the former Meat Monsters BBQ diner at the Balmacassie Commercial Centre.
It comes after the venue confirmed its closure in July.
Meat Monsters broke the sad news this summer:
Blueprints reveal aims to split the building in two, with one area a kitchen showroom and the other reserved for storage.
If approved, it would be open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday.
Stonehaven school’s new roof
Aberdeenshire Council is planning a package of repairs at Stonehaven’s Arduthie School.
As well as replacing windows, the roof will be upgraded in a “like for like” manner.
However, one particular material (Sarnafil) has been ruled out because the town’s troublesome gull population is “known to pick holes in it”.
Lead, meanwhile, is not “economically feasible” and has been dismissed due to the “large number of lead thefts from roofs in the past”.
Read all about it! Port Paper Shop plans approved!
Plans to knock down Port Elphinstone’s Paper Shop – to start afresh with a bigger, better replacement – have been approved.
The Aberdeenshire Council decision came after faithful regulars wrote in backing owner HM Singh Enterprises’ aims.
Local Paul Dickie wrote to the local authority commending the improvement idea.
He said: “We have no other shops in the area, apart from the garage which is limited to what it sells.
“The shop is handy for people who have no transport to take them into town to get daily essentials.
The current shop is too small at present and needs to expand to continue to serve the growing customer base.”
Brian Gall said it’s the only shop in the community in “easy walking distance” for older people, and expressed hope it would sell “a wider range of goods” if expanded.
Gail Stewart said she admired the owners for “squeezing so much stock into the small shop” as it is.
But she added: “A bigger shop would be amazing, especially for the elderly and people that can’t access Inverurie easily.”
Meanwhile, a nearby car dealership is also launching expansion plans…
Car showroom to get bigger
Lawrence of Kemnay has been given permission for an extension at its showroom on the outskirts of Inverurie.
The new block will stretch about halfway along the front of the building.
These design images show how it will look:
Tyseal base to be brought back to life
Elsewhere, Aberdeen City Council has rubber-stamped proposals to turn the old Tyseal base at the West Tullos Industrial Estate into a new Ford car showroom.
It comes after Knight Frank bought the former office complex last February – and flattened 20 unwanted units there.
They said once-thriving workplaces like Phoenix House and the Winfex Centre (the former home of the Remove-Rehome-Recycle charity) were ridden with asbestos.
Under the scheme, a car showroom, workshop, spare parts shop, servicing bays and an MOT centre will now be erected on the vast site.
There will be 31 staff parking spaces, and 39 for customers.
The first TrustFord dealership in Scotland, it will offer new and used cars and commercial vehicles.
Aurora Planning, on behalf of Knight Frank, said the scheme would “bring the world’s
largest Ford dealer group to Aberdeen with a much sought-after offering”.
Deeside Way could be waylaid as garage grows…
Dinnet Garage, just off the A93 between Aboyne and Ballater, has had a successful few years.
In recent times, it has become the main Fiat service dealer in the area – with a 30% increase in motorhome servicing reported in 2020.
Bosses have now formed plans to expand the site – which would mean a slight change to the popular Deeside Way walking and cycling route.
They say extending to the rear will allow for extra parking and storage space.
And papers sent to Aberdeenshire Council by John Wink Design explain that the firm would redirect the path currently along the old railway line.
They say they would re-lay it, a few yards further back, with a 20mm aggregate over a “coarser, compacted hardcore to allow stability”.
Though some cyclists or dog-walkers may fear disruption, Dinnet Garage insists this will “not have any effect” on the Deeside Way.
John Wink adds: “It will be rerouted around the rear of the site, and constructed as per the Deeside Way guideline specifications.”
Bennachie glamping plans face backlash
Last month, Planning Ahead detailed a vision for a handful of glamping pods in the shadow of Bennachie.
The six units would be spread across land beside Cumingstone Croft, at Chapel of Garioch.
The plans have since received more than a dozen letters of support – but about 30 objections.
Those in favour say it will bring a welcome cash boost.
William Simpson, from Huntly, believes the idea is “exactly what our shire needs”.
He adds: “This will, without doubt, create a ripple effect to further outlaying areas to improve their visitor numbers and finances. So this can only be a good thing for all to see happen.”
In her letter to the council, Siobhan Docherty of Inverurie said: “I’m sure this can work in harmony with the natural environment.
A wonderful project which is much needed.”
But opponents warn the scheme could harm the scenic setting.
‘Don’t spoil this wild spot…’
Wilma Low says the hot tub getaway is “too close to the path” leading up the hill.
She says this will detract from the current “very natural and wild” feel, with “wide open unpopulated views where you can spot a lot of wildlife”.
She added: “There are plenty of areas further away from Bennachie, please don’t spoil this wild spot.”
This video shows off the stunning surroundings regularly enjoyed by hillwalkers:
Wendy Glasspool from Chapel of Garioch added: “The proposed development is essentially on the slope on Mither Tap, immediately adjacent to the Bennachie Visitors Centre and well-used paths.
“It is inappropriate to develop a ‘holiday park’ on the flanks of the hill.”
She also flagged concerns about noise from “outside activities” shattering the tranquillity of the “very quiet and peaceful area”.
People have until Thursday October 13 to submit their comments.
Just after Aldi… Now there could be a new Macduff Co-op too
The lack of decent grocery shops in Banff and Macduff has long been a source of contention among locals – with a row still ongoing over plans for a new Morrisons at Canal Park.
Meanwhile, this summer Macduffers had their prayers answered when a new Aldi at Duff Street was approved.
And now, developer Tahir Pervaiz has formed plans to build a new Macduff Co-op on the vacant site of the former Buchan Street filling station.
Mr Pervaiz also brought a Co-op to Lhanbryde outside Elgin (after something of a fight).
It comes after previous plans to site a Co-op on the vacant land were submitted to the local authority a few years ago.
And design images show how the store would be formed, with room for 10 parking spaces.
However, the plan has already attracted a complaint…
Paul Richmond, who lives across the road at 49 Buchan Street, says the site is “too small” and “unsuitable” for parking.
He adds: “As a result, traffic hazards will increase along Buchan Street.
“There is already a large number of parked vehicles causing several dangerous areas where children have to cross the road for school.
“There are plenty of run-down buildings, unoccupied for many years, crying out for re-development in the more commercial sectors of Macduff, where I am sure such retail businesses would prosper.”
Do you think a new Macduff Co-op is needed? Let us know in our comments section below
Former The Works could become big new Union Street restaurant
Finally, plans to create a new restaurant at the top end of Union Street have been lodged.
The scheme comes at a time when the council is looking to inject new life into that end of the Granite Mile with an ambitious roads revamp.
Images released days ago have a particular focus on that Union Terrace to Holburn Street stretch, with plans to ban cars from that section of the road.
And now, visitors to the updated area could have a new food venue to try out…
Shepherds released this video showing the 414 Union Street space available earlier this year:
The unit has been empty since The Works moved from Union Street to the Trinity Centre in 2017.
The proposal, lodged by Ronald Soon, is to turn the ground and first floor into seated areas for diners.
Blueprints show how the kitchen would be upstairs, with a dumb waiter bringing food down to diners.
There would be 32 seats, in eight tables of four, on the ground floor with another 24 (also in tables of four) upstairs.
The type of food planned for the spot is not yet clear…
However, an “odour assessment” has indicated that “a high level of odour control” will be needed to stop smells wafting out into the street.
It also follows Shell’s decision to relocate its 1,000-strong workforce to the Silver Fin building nearby.
You can see this week’s plans for yourself using these links:
Douneside House Hotel staff flats
New Macduff Co-op plans lodged
Conversation