A Peterhead pub could be expanding by opening a new restaurant, a pair of grocery stores could be opening in Aberdeen and a Mearns farm shop wants to create an outdoor dining area.
All these and more feature in this week’s Planning Ahead, our weekly round-up of the latest proposals being pondered across the north-east.
Every week we bring readers a selection of the most interesting applications submitted to our councils.
And we begin our latest instalment with news that a new tattoo parlour is coming to Ellon.
Tattooist opening new studio
Ligita Sabeckas has been given permission to transform a former hair salon at 15 Market Street in Ellon town centre.
The building was formerly the town’s SNP HQ.
Peterhead-based Mr Sabeckas will run it as Painful Pleasure Ink.
Heated garden ‘pods’ planned for Aberdeen students
After a rainy few days, we are finally entering the time of year when (fingers crossed) many of us will be able to enjoy some more time in the garden.
And the owners of the Mealmarket student flats in Aberdeen city centre want to make sure its young inhabitants are able to make the most of its outdoor area.
Owners want to erect a heated “focal point” pavilion for their brainy inhabitants to study and socialise in, along with seating “pods”.
Manchester-based Roost Propco 3 Ltd say the pavilion would have its own communal kitchenette, large dining table and comfy sofas.
Architects add: “This will provide much needed amenity and social space, which is lacking in the existing accommodation.”
New Aberdeen corner shop plans
Meanwhile, on the city’s Westburn Road, an accountancy office could be turned into a new corner shop.
Applicants Annai Mary, run by Joney Thanabalasingham, wants to open it as a Family Shopper grocery store.
The building has been the home of Granite Accountants for years.
New shop could be opening on Dyce wasteland
And over in Dyce, plans that have been simmering away for a while are back on the table.
Efforts to build a store and flat at a site in the heart of the suburb were thwarted in 2017.
More proposals for the spot next to the church hall on Victoria Street were sent to Aberdeen City Council last April, but withdrawn weeks later.
Unimpressed worshippers at the adjacent Dyce Parish Church complained that space used by its congregation for parking had been fenced off.
Now Fleet Properties has submitted fresh proposals for the site of demolished public toilets, hoping it might be third time lucky.
The shop would come with its own EV charging point if approved.
Flood defences planned for historic area of Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s Virginia Street is a part of the city steeped in history.
It was formed in 1768 on what was the “shorelands”.
Prior to this, water from the harbour would reach the foot of Castlehill.
Its name comes from the American state the city shared booming trade links with at the time, with neighbouring Sugarhouse Lane a clear allusion to the product of the slavery plantations the city profited from.
And the historic street is home to “the oldest established transport business in the world”.
The Shore Porters haulage firm dates back to 1498, and has a huge warehouse there.
And though water from the harbour no longer cascades through this part of the city, it turns out it’s no stranger to flooding in 2024…
Plans have now been lodged to protect the Shore Porters building from the threat of rising waters from sewers.
‘Sewer flooding can cause significant damage’
Bell Ingram Design has written to the council about the issue on behalf of Scottish Water.
They want to install “flood mitigation doors” to shield the structure from ingress.
Documents state: “In some areas, sewer flooding occurs during periods of heavy rainfall, causing significant damage to building fabric and contents when it enters a property.
“When sewer flooding occurs in this area of Aberdeen, it travels overground and
enters buildings via external doors which front onto public roads and footpaths.
“Buildings have been flooded internally on multiple occasions since 2020.”
They confirm that “ongoing investigations” are taking place to “establish the cause”.
How will flood defences protect old building?
Three external doors at the warehouse will be swapped for new “uPVC flood mitigation doors” and a “rapid assembly flood barrier” would be installed in front of the roller shutters.
Papers explain: “The proposed flood doors have an ‘active flood seal’ mechanism which significantly reduces the risk of internal flooding.
“The mechanism is activated automatically during any flood event and is not dependent on human intervention.”
Defences would also be installed at other buildings along Virginia Street.
And similar proposals have been formed for properties on Marischal Street which back onto historic Theatre Lane.
Kintore man under fire for putting up rogue fence
Putting up a garden fence can sometimes require a bit more than a few planks and a tin of Ronseal.
What might seem like a mundane process can spark disputes, and might need paperwork to be signed off by the local authority.
And such was the case in Kintore, when Torryburn Court resident Andrew Douglas decided to put one up.
After erecting the fence on property he owns in the village, a complaint was received and officials got in touch telling him it would need special permission.
Kintore resident Paul Davison then penned a letter of objection to the council, urging decision-makers to refuse the application.
He said it was a safety hazard, impacting on views of traffic and pedestrians at the B977 junction at Gauchhill Road, and went against rules imposed when the houses there were built.
The local community council agreed, saying the fence was too tall and cut off “previously open” space.
So what did the council say?
The planning department has now officially ordered the 1.8m high timber fence be removed.
They say it results in the loss of 138sq m of open space, and is an “alien addition to the streetscene”.
There was a similar row about the height of a fence in the Powis area of Aberdeen last year.
That time, the owner claimed she had to erect it due to antisocial behavior from neighbours. She was eventually allowed to keep it when she agreed to chop the controversial fence down in size a bit.
Mearns farm shop has expansion plans
Sillyflatt Farm, just off the road between Inverbervie and Gourdon along the Mearns coast, began diversifying by selling flowers a few years ago.
It is owned by Ailsa and Jan-Georg van Rooyen.
Ailsa told us back then that the 140-acre plot had been in her family for 70 years, but needed to change to “have a future”.
Since that time, they have expanded further.
In 2020, the couple were given permission for a new farm shop.
Sillyflatt Fare, Flowers and Gatherings offers meat, veg and other locally sourced treats.
They now want to base a coffee truck at the spot to sell snacks, with a covered outdoor seating area.
This should “take advantage of the substantial views” out to sea while “attracting visitors, tourists and enhancing the local offering”.
It would be built over a disused silage pit which has been redundant for 20 years.
And the venture would create one full-time job, along with two part-time positions.
It comes after Mearns locals last year bemoaned the loss of a coffee shop in nearby St Cyrus.
Tarragon outdoor area APPROVED
And now we move to an outdoor dining area in a more urban setting.
Last week, we revealed that the popular Tarragon restaurant in the Rosemount area of Aberdeen was seeking permission for an al fresco area.
It came after owner Graham Mitchell persuaded the council to move some bins that were blocking the spot.
Now, Aberdeen City Council has given him the go-ahead to proceed with the project.
Mr Mitchell took to social media to tell fans it would be “coming soon”.
New Peterhead bar restaurant planned for town centre
And now we finish this week’s round-up with news of a Blue Toon pub seeking to branch out with an expansion.
Owners of the Caley Bar and Cube nightclub, Carl and Robin Hansen, want to take over the empty Dorothy Jacks clothes shop next door on Chapel Street.
Blueprints sent to Aberdeenshire Council indicate how the former store could become a new Peterhead bar/restaurant.
It would have space for about 50 diners.
Do you think Peterhead town centre needs another restaurant? Let us know in our comments section below
Meanwhile, at the rear, there would be an extension creating more room for the Caley Bar.
The new restaurant plans come amid major efforts to rejuvenate Peterhead town centre, with the UK Government pledging £20m to the cause.
We asked how residents wanted the cash spent…
You can see the plans here:
Garden pavilion for Aberdeen students
New Peterhead restaurant proposal
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