Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals lodged across the north-east.
There has been a lot of talk about the future of Aberdeen’s struggling Union Street lately, with a recent summit aimed at finding ways to revive it.
This week, our round-up offers some glimmers of hope…
Plans have been submitted to turn one empty phone shop into a take-away, and proposals for a new two-storey restaurant have been approved.
Elsewhere, Braemar’s Fife Arms Hotel could be at “significant risk” due to unstable rocks along the banks of the Clunie.
Roof repairs after leak in council chambers
Perhaps it’s no surprise that the ducts on the roof of Aberdeen’s Town House extension are in need of replacement.
Some might say the council chambers, immediately below, has produced its fair share of hot air over the years.
It’s part of a package of proposals planned for the 1970s Broad Street building.
The scheme to replace its flat roof comes after “reports of leakage from above the council chamber”.
Engineers suggested it was probably coming from pipes or ducts.
A Fairhurst report adds: “On the roof there are several items of plant including extract ventilators from the council chamber, from the canteen kitchen and from the toilets.
“Air supply ducts to the council chamber are in poor condition (leaking).”
As the building is listed via its connection to the historic Town House, permission is required before the replacement of the roof can begin.
Minto House offices to be flattened
Plans to demolish the old Minto House office complex in Aberdeen’s Altens industrial estate have now been endorsed by the council.
The scheme was detailed in Planning Ahead in September, with the local authority now signing off on the works.
Applicants BB Minto Ltd, a company formed at the end of June by engineer Alexander Fyfe and accountant David Walker, will retain the workshops there.
It’s one of many empty buildings in the estate, and firms are increasingly favouring demolition rather than paying business rates on premises unlikely to be occupied any time soon.
Different story in Dyce…
But on the other side of the city, one empty unit could be in for a new lease of life.
Phoenix Decom Ltd wants to take over a warehouse, office, yard and forecourt at Dyce Industrial Park, which has been advertised to rent for £95,000 per annum.
They plan to use the 10,752sq ft space to store, clean and descale oilfield equipment and pipes.
The firm operates its main base from Aberdeen Energy Park in Bridge of Don.
Could Inverurie extension have impact on historic burial mound?
Conyng Hillock is a “prehistoric” burial mound in an unlikely setting – nestled in the back gardens of three homes on Inverurie’s Barclay Road.
It measures about 25m by 20m, and is more than 5m high.
Around 1902 or 1903, an ancient beaker and charred wood were found at the top of the hillock.
And it’s also just 15m from where Manse Road resident Martyn Anderson wants to add an extension and new garage to his home.
The property was sold for £300,000 last September.
In applying for permission, he had to consult expert historians on the chances it could disturb the scheduled monument…
What do the experts say?
Aberdeenshire Council’s archaeology team said there is “the potential” that previously unrecorded relics could still survive beneath his back garden.
Regional archaeologist Claire Herbert asked that investigations take place before any work commences, with details on how any ancient discoveries will be dealt with.
She also suggests that an archaeologist be present for all groundbreaking works.
The expert added: “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.”
Historic Environment Scotland said the plans would have “an impact” on Conyng Hillock.
But, as the area is a residential one anyway, they say it “doesn’t raise issues of national significance”.
Images show the open plan extension would have a log burning stove, large L-shaped couch and a kitchen area.
Old saw servicing shop could be for the chop
The former Strathbogie Saw Service shop in the heart of Huntly could soon be knocked down – and replaced with a pair of townhouses.
The plans for the disused Bogie Street shop come from a K Marshall.
Each home would have a kitchen and dining area on the ground floor, office and lounge on the first floor and two bedrooms on the second floor.
New shed to ‘tidy up’ NatureScot’s St Cyrus base
NatureScot has been given permission for a large new shed at is building on the St Cyrus Nature Reserve.
The agency says piles of equipment and tools left on grass outside the current, undersized hut there make it look “untidy”.
And along with providing a “more visually acceptable solution”, it will also mean the equipment is no longer “exposed to the elements and the salty air from the North Sea”.
Solar panels will also be installed to help power the electric ATV kept there.
New signs to boost takings at Deeside cheesemakers
The Cambus o’ May cheese factory has become something of a Royal Deeside tourist attraction, offering visitors an insight into how the dairy delight in manufactured.
In recent years, the Royal Deeside creamery added to its offering with a new cafe at its base between Aboyne and Ballater.
The Milk Hoose is already packed out with locals topping off weekend walks with a toastie and a cup of coffee.
But now, the owners are eager to lure in more customers with advertising signs in the form of milk jugs hung up by the side of the A93.
Papers sent to Aberdeenshire Council by Gerry Robb architects state: “Being a small business in a rural area the signs would greatly benefit their foot traffic.”
Given the proximity to Balmoral, perhaps they could even entice King Charles in for a scone in passing.
Name of new Ballater business revealed
Plans are progressing for a new fish shop in Ballater, and we can now reveal its name.
It will be known as “Fish Shop”.
The building is the former Rothesay Rooms restaurant opened by King Charles in the wake of Storm Frank flooding.
It will be divided in two, with a restaurant specialising in seafood on one side and the traditional fishmonger on the other.
Owners Artfarm Ltd are seeking permission for the sign to be illuminated.
The Press and Journal first reported on the change last November.
Fife Arms Hotel taking action as Clunie riverbank crumbles
Artfarm also owns Braemar’s luxury Fife Arms Hotel – which they warn could be “at significant risk” unless riverside repairs are carried out.
The company spent several million on refurbishing the glitzy establishment prior to its 2017 reopening.
Bosses have now commissioned studies on an “unstable” rockface along the Clunie Water – yards from the five-star boutique building.
Should it collapse into the water, it could cause untold structural damage to the 19th century resort.
On behalf of Artfarm, Moxon Architects say: “An assessment of the current rockface has been completed by specialist designer Fairhurst.
“It is understood that there is significant risk to the hotel building if the rockface is not rectified.”
How to protect Fife Arms Hotel from Clunie collapse
Documents submitted to Aberdeenshire Council state that two specific areas of the rockface need attention.
One has “potential for sliding failure in the rock slope” while the other is suffering from erosion.
Expert engineers from Fairhurst carried out studies at the site.
They have devised ways, using “rock reinforcement dowels” in the sliding mass and “high tensile rockfall netting” to avert calamity.
Relaunched Wallace Tower plans
The Tillydrone Community Development Trust’s dream of reviving Aberdeen’s Wallace Tower has had many ups and downs over the years.
Now, the group is back with revamped proposals to finally unlock its potential as an asset to the area.
They hope it could be reborn as a community facility with cafe.
The latest vision for the future of the building, relocated brick by brick from the city centre to Tillydrone decades ago, comes after the group enlisted architect Richard Tinto.
After objections to the previous design, the extension proposed will have “a minimal connection and disruption to the historic building”.
The public facilities will all be located on the ground floor level, with the upper floors of the tower becoming office space.
Tinto architecture adds: “The proposals are intended to bring an additional facility to the community, but will also link to the existing local and tourist attractions of Seaton Park and St Machar’s Cathedral, both located a short walk away.”
If the cafe plans are approved, the 17th century building would have five seats inside on the ground floor with an extra 11 in the extension.
There would be a meeting hall on the first floor and open plan office on the second.
Watch Tinto’s video of a “piece of Aberdonian history revitalised”:
Do you think this could be the winning formula to bring back Wallace Tower? Let us know in our comments section below
New Union Street restaurant plans approved – but operator now needed
Last month, Planning Ahead revealed that plans had been lodged to turn Aberdeen’s old The Works shop on Union Street into a new restaurant.
It has been empty for five years.
The application, submitted by Ronald Soon, showed a vision to turn the building into an diner with space for more than 60 people across the ground and first floors.
Shepherds released this video showing the 414 Union Street space available earlier this year:
The plans have now been approved.
But updated papers sent to the council now indicate that the type of restaurant it could become remains unknown.
Mr Soon submitted the plans in the hope that, once approved, a firm might be interested in taking the space on.
Potential operators could be enticed by Shell’s recent pledge to boost city centre cafes.
The oil giant will move its North Sea HQ into the adjacent Silver Fin building in the new year.
And bosses have decided to do away with a canteen, instead providing staff with information on the nearby spots where they can pick up lunch.
Old phone shop could be new take-away
Meanwhile, the former Three mobile phone shop near McDonald’s on the central stretch of the Granite Mile could be turned into a new take-away.
The unit has been advertised to rent for £60,000 per annum, having been empty for more than two years.
You can have a look around the shop here:
The plans come from Adria Group Ltd, based on Aberdeen’s Altens Industrial Estate.
Apart from dealing in hot food, there are no details on what the proposed take-away might sell.
The building next to the railings overlooking The Green had been a Three shop for more than a decade by the time it closed.
You can read more about the latest Union Street news here.
You can see this week’s plans for yourself using these links:
Fife Arms Hotel repairs at Clunie River
Relaunched Wallace Tower plans
The Works restaurant plan approved
New take-away plans for Three shop
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