Welcome to our weekly round-up of the latest planning applications lodged across the north-east.
We can now confirm that council planning chiefs have paved the way for The Food Warehouse to open a new Aberdeen supermarket at the Berryden retail park.
With bulk-buying options, it could make a big difference to household budgets…
And progress on repairs to the storm-hit Fraserburgh Heritage Centre are sure to be widely welcomed.
But first, we have a look at what must be one of the north-east’s most eye-catching abodes…
House that looks like a crab to be repainted
The new owner of a crustacean-themed eco home overlooking the Johnshaven shoreline wants to paint the house red.
The Crab House was built in 2014 and put on the market for £375,000 at the end of last year.
Owner Christopher Pearson has now had to seek formal permission to give it a fresh lick of paint, due to its location in a conservation area.
Have a look at the stunning Crab House in this video:
His plan is to repaint it with an “opaque rustic deep red oil” to protect the timber from UV light.
The scarlet hue may also give the “crab” the appearance of being boiled – perhaps appropriate in our current temperatures.
Carden Place office becoming home
The former home of the Campbell Dallas chartered accountants in Aberdeen could soon be a “high quality five-bedroom” home on Carden Place.
David Sinclair is seeking permission for the changes, which include turning a rear car park into a garden.
Aurora Planning says repurposing the three-storey granite villa will “address the challenge of climate change by reducing the need for new development” in the city.
Aurora adds: “The building has been marketed for its current office use since September 2020, with limited interest.
“There is little to no prospect of number 23 being relet or sold for office use any time
in the short to medium term.”
Drum Castle cottage revamp
The new owner of the “charming” Gardeners Cottage at Drum Castle has secured permission for an extension – and a new workshop and garage next to the property.
The building, which was sold for £250,000 last December, is near the entrance to the Deeside estate.
Andrew Black will now be able to build a new kitchen, utility room and vestibule.
Would you like to live in old Drumoak Post Office?
Nearby, the former Post Office in the Deeside village of Drumoak could soon be turned into a new home.
The Nether Sunnyside building has lain empty since its closure in 2019.
Now, an application put forward by Colin Donald seeks to change its use, with the former Post Office itself becoming a sitting room.
No glass ceiling on ambitions for Fraserburgh Heritage Centre
Fraserburgh Heritage Centre was one of the north-east’s high profile victims of Storm Arwen last autumn – with devastating gales tearing the roof from the coastal museum.
Hundreds of irreplaceable artefacts were left exposed to the elements, but most were rescued “remarkably” intact.
Since then, volunteers from the Fraserburgh Heritage Society have been dreaming of the day they can reopen the attraction – which is owned by Aberdeenshire Council.
And now they have been given renewed hope, with plans lodged for a new roof.
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’
Charity co-director Barry Scott believes the proposed replacement “looks a lot more suitable”.
He added: “The new design seems better equipped to handle high winds.
“Everybody is keen to get back and get things moving.
“For us, we can’t really start planning anything until we get that new roof in place – it’s the foundation we need.
“This gives us that bit more light at the end of the tunnel.”
Barry added that, since being ripped apart, the building has come to “look like a doocot” with scores of new pigeon inhabitants.
Following the “positive step” of the roof replacement scheme, he is hopeful it could be back in action by the end of next year.
The roof will also cover the storage area of the neighbouring Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, which was also forced to evacuate items in the aftermath of Arwen.
Cove Rangers fanzone trial could be extended
Cove Rangers are seeking permission to keep their Balmoral Stadium social club, known as a “fan zone”, in place for another three years.
Club bosses say attempts to trial the popularity of the temporary unit, which also has a players lounge and office, were waylaid by the pandemic.
Papers sent to the council say Cove has “not been in a position to review its permanence” even though it has “proven successful when in use”.
A letter from consultants Halliday Fraser Munro says that temporary permission for another three years will mean management can “consider the need for the structure in a post-Covid time”.
It comes after the club put in plans for new stands to accommodate a growing number of supporters.
Former Optimus base at Westhill to become gym
The former offices of the Optimus engineering firm at Westhill’s Arnhall Business Park could become a new gym.
Optimus moved into the unit in 2010 but is now based near Aberdeen Harbour.
Meanwhile, the building was snapped up prior to an auction last year.
Now, proposals have been lodged by Specialist Valve Services Ltd to transform it into a gym.
Blueprints show how it would have a weights area on the ground floor with a fitness suite, treadmills and cross trainers upstairs.
The Food Warehouse supermarket on the way to Berryden
Aberdeen City Council has almost completely cleared the way for a new supermarket to open in the Berryden retail park.
Planning chiefs have given the go-ahead for a series of alterations at the former Mothercare unit, beside Currys.
The plans have been months in the making.
And in the spring, The Food Warehouse declared its intentions to take over the building.
The council has now approved plans to create the new shopfront, with sliding doors being installed.
And a separate application for internal changes has also been rubber-stamped.
The Food Warehouse is run by the firm that owns Iceland, and describes itself as one of the UK’s “fastest growing supermarkets”.
Its arrival will be good news for those paying closer attention to their budgets amid the cost of living crisis…
One of its trademark selling points is offering “bigger pack options” allowing shoppers to “stock up for less on all your favourites”.
And in May, it announced a scheme where customers older than 60 can get 10% off whatever they spend on Tuesdays.
Other aspects of the plan, such as signage and a refrigeration plant, are still awaiting a decision – though no objections have been raised.
Do you think Aberdeen needs another supermarket? Let us know in our comments section below
Outdoor centre upgrades
Finally we look at plans for The Sir Arthur Grant Outdoor Centre, in Monymusk, which was built as a school in 1890.
It was opened for the 10th Baronet of Monymusk, who it is now named after.
The building has been in use as a residential centre since 1962, having been done up in 1978 to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and again in 1992.
The council’s Live Life Aberdeenshire sports and culture body describes the C-listed facility near Kemnay as one of the region’s “well kept secrets” and an “ideal venue for activities”.
It sleeps up to 30 people, providing the perfect base for exploring the great outdoors.
Now, LLA wants to “modernise” the building and create a new shed and workshop.
The new addition would provide storage space for outdoors equipment, and form a base for the council’s LLA team.
They say bringing it up to scratch, and slightly increasing capacity, will make it “more suitable” for school and community groups.
Planning documents state: “Currently use is sporadic and primarily booked-out by schools and uniformed groups.
“Following the works, the site would be a multifunctional hub for Live Life.
“There will be opportunities for meeting/conferences/training, space for maintenance of equipment and a base for a number of the team.”
Under the changes, there would be two new accessible bedrooms.
The full list of upgrades includes a complete rewiring and roof insulation.
And if approved, works will begin next year with the revamped centre reopening in early 2024.
You can see the plans for yourself using these links:
The Food Warehouse Aberdeen supermarket frontage and internal alterations
Sir Arthur Grant Residential Centre plans
Conversation