Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Planners warn Aberdeen councillors of ‘risk’ as they recommend refusal of plans for Inchgarth retirement village

Pictured is a locator of the fields on Inchgarth Road, Cults, Aberdeen. 
Picture by DARRELL BENNS
Pictured is a locator of the fields on Inchgarth Road, Cults, Aberdeen. Picture by DARRELL BENNS

Aberdeen councillors have been warned backing plans for a retirement village in the west of the city would “risk a precedent” for building on green belt land.

Even a pledge from developers to build a £3million link road to end well-used rat runs was not enough to sway planning officers, who have recommended members refuse the proposals for the fields and scrubland in Inchgarth Road.

Councillors will meet via video link on Friday to decide on the Cults Property Group application for permission in principle for the residential-led development marketed for the retired and elderly.

It would include 95 homes including affordable housing, a 50-bed care home, a mix of community and retail space and a link road between Inchgarth Road and North Deeside Road.

The multi-million-pound stretch would bridge over the Deeside Way to its “detriment” and require “significant” embankments to be built, which council staff warned would be “highly visible” within the leafy Pitfodels conservation area.

In a report prepared for members of the planning committee, senior planner Lucy Greene wrote: “It is considered that the proposal would have an adverse impact on landscape, the character of the conservation area and the proposal would therefore be contrary to (council policy).

“There would be a detrimental impact on the character of this stretch of the Deeside Way adversely affecting its value for recreation and a detrimental impact on the natural environment.”

Pitfodels Station Road is one rat run a potential link road could cut out.

Ms Greene added: “We do not consider the link road to be a material planning consideration that would alter the recommendation of refusal.

“Possible benefits for residents on nearby roads where traffic levels may reduce would be offset by corresponding increased traffic levels for residents on Inchgarth Road and North Deeside Road.”

Marked as green belt land, the report states there is “no policy justification” for the road to be regarded as essential, which would strengthen the case for planning permission.

“The proposal would risk setting a precedent for further development within the green belt,” she added.

There is also concern about a significant number of trees that would be felled to make way and of the impact the development would have on the views in the area.

Despite being “a significant departure from the local development plan”, nearly 280 letters were sent to the council supporting the proposals.

It also gained conditional backing from Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber Community Council due to public feeling towards the retirement-friendly housing and commitment to funding the link road, hoped to reduce traffic in Abbotshall Road, Westerton Road and Pitfodels Station Road.

Planners also received 22 objections.

Members of the planning committee will meet on Friday via video conference to discuss the plans.

The public will be able to view a recording of the meeting and records of decisions taken on the council website later that day.