Welcome to our weekly round-up of the latest planning applications lodged across the north-east.
This week we bid au revior to the Inverbervie French school, with teacher Jill Simpson turning her former classrooms into part of her home.
And £8 million plans to enhance Albyn Hospital, which attracted the ire of its Aberdeen neighbours before being quashed by the council, have now been rubber-stamped at Holyrood.
But we start with more proposals to continue outdoors hospitality in the Granite City…
Casc wants to keep outdoor seating for another year
Plenty of Aberdeen pubs have embraced al fresco drinking in recent years, with the pandemic changing punters’ habits.
Now Casc, on Stirling Street, is seeking permission to retain its outdoor area for a further 12 months.
Casc – an acronym for cigars, ale, Scotch and coffee – says its beer garden helped the business weather the pandemic.
One of the owners, Paul West, said: “It was a lot of work but thankfully word of mouth spread very quickly and all our loyal Casc-ers were quick to support us.”
P&J reporter Kieran Beattie told us he braved sleet and snow to have his first post-lockdown pint there, describing the Black Isle porter as “delicious”.
Red Robin has another crack at outdoor area
Red Robin Records was left dismayed when the council previously rejected plans to make its outdoor seating permanent.
The local authority determined the change would have “a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the Union Street Conservation Area”.
They also said the pods would “obstruct driver visibility”.
Owner Nick Duthie told us he would continue to fight for their place outside the venue.
And he has now relaunched his application to keep the three pods, hoping that this time the planning department will see things his way.
Former nursery to become Aberdeen home
Meanwhile, plans have been formed to turn the former Jumping Jacks nursery on Aberdeen’s Great Western Road into a new home.
The proposals, put forward by Susan McIntosh from Whitecairns, explain that the pre-school centre closed in May 2016.
The building has since been put on the market for £385,000.
The three-storey townhouse would be converted with three classrooms becoming a kitchen, living room and bedroom.
Another change would be knocking down a conservatory at the rear to make way for a terrace garden.
Portlethen cafe plans in limbo
Plans for a new cafe in Portlethen have been withdrawn – until the applicant returns from his homeland of Turkey.
Since then, two locals have complained to Aberdeenshire Council about the prospect of yet another takeaway in the town.
A furious Helen Brown said: “We DO NOT need another takeaway/cafe, which would only encourage children hanging about causing more noise, mess and damage.
“NO MORE TAKE-AWAYS PLEASE!!!!!”
Scroll back and forth to see the proposed changes:
Another resident agreed: “I believe that for a village the size of Portlethen, 10 takeaways is more than enough.”
And the council’s environmental health team requested more information on how noise and odour from the Rowanbank Court venue would be kept to a minimum.
Following a warning that the scheme would be refused unless that information is submitted, Mr Satilmis’s representatives have shelved the proposal.
Squire Associates said: “Our client, unfortunately, had to return back home to Turkey to deal with family matters mid-June.
“He will not return back until 29th July at the earliest, and has been unable to deal with things during his absence.”
We will keep tabs on whether the plans are revived.
Healthy takeaway option for Kittybrewster
Maeme’s, which runs Piri Piri chicken restaurants across the UK, wants to open new premises in the Kittybrewster Shopping Centre.
The Clifton Road precinct already has a curry house, Chinese takeaway, chip shop and branch of Domino’s pizza.
But applicant Pramod Tummala says the flame-grilled offering will provide a healthy alternative for locals – something that is “limited” in the area.
The “modern, elegant” seating area would have enough room for 37 customers.
The Maeme’s would operate from the former Grampian Services charity base in units 11 and 12.
If approved, it would be open from 11am to 11.30pm every day.
The space is presently occupied by art charity Outer Spaces, as a pop-up studio and exhibition room.
The developers state: “The proposed restaurant will help regenerate the current building and help inject money back into the community by providing jobs.
“The proposed restaurant will provide a family-friendly dining experience with
family seating areas, providing healthy grilled food.”
Electric revamp for King Street bus depot stalls
Recently we revealed how First Bus is planning to overhaul its Aberdeen depot to serve 148 electric vehicles.
But the firm has now withdrawn the scheme to carry out noise surveys after neighbours complained about the possible “annoying hum” from the electric equipment.
Mintlaw EV chargers
Plans for new EV chargers are a recurring feature in our weekly round-ups, as more and more businesses adapt to changing needs.
Now, Motor Fuel Group is applying to install four of them at the garage on South Street in Mintlaw – along with a substation and other works.
They would be built to the rear of the site.
Peterhead office could become flat
In Peterhead, offices above Marischal Street’s Nickel n’ Dime shop could be turned into a new flat.
The property was sold for £25,000 last February.
Plans lodged with Aberdeenshire Council by Mike Beech show how four former offices could become two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen.
A smaller bedroom would be formed where the tea room once was.
Do you have any thoughts on this week’s plans? Let us know in our comments section below
Aberdeen hospital’s £8m revamp plans approved by Scottish Government on appeal
Plans to expand Aberdeen’s private Albyn Hospital were rejected by councillors in January.
Concerns included “over-development” via the extension into the rear garden, and the potential to affect neighbouring homes.
Councillor Jennifer Stewart said: “One of the residents said to me ‘would you like to live here with that at the bottom of your garden?’
“And the answer to me was ‘no’.”
But now the Scottish Government has overruled Aberdeen City Council – meaning work can soon begin on the 18-month improvement scheme worth £8m.
Albyn bosses say the extension will create 40 new jobs across the hospital.
Under the scheme, three en-suite patient bedrooms will be created and seven patient day case rooms built.
The approved plans will see the creation of the latest specification laminar flow theatre – which has an enhanced form of ventilation “generating a continuous flow of bacteria-free air”.
There will also be an improved pedestrian entrance.
Bets Welman, executive director, said the “exciting” project will “significantly decrease waiting times, which will positively impact the patient’s experience”.
Work is expected to start in October and be completed towards the beginning of 2024.
Inverbervie French school to become part of home
A Mearns French teacher has lodged plans to turn her former workplace into a home.
Jill Simpson retired earlier this year – “after 23 years of French fun”.
She took lessons at the former Clydesdale Bank on Church Street in Inverbervie since 2006, following the controversial closure of the branch.
In 2019, we reported how youngsters staged a celebration to mark Jill’s 20th year of teaching the award-winning La Jolie Ronde programme.
Having started off with just five classes over two afternoons, by that time she had built up her business to welcome 60-70 local primary school pupils every week.
The teacher is now seeking to turn the old classrooms into a new home.
Blueprints detail how a pair of offices would become a multi-purpose area and study as the final chapter closes for the school.
New McDonald’s plan attracts another high-profile opponent
Plans to turn Aberdeen’s former Rosehill Day Centre into a new McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru have proven controversial, attracting scores of objections.
The proposed site is located across the road from the Aberdeen Ambulance Station.
And the Scottish Ambulance Service fears the Ashgrove Road West scheme could cost lives – with traffic having a “detrimental effect” on response times to life-threatening call-outs.
Now, Aberdeen International Airport has become the latest consultee to find fault.
They say the new McDonald’s could “cause conflict” unless certain conditions are imposed to try and deter birds.
A letter submitted to Aberdeen City Council requests that a “bird hazard management plan” be created in conjunction with airport bosses.
And they also demand that any flat, shallow or pitched roofs that “may be attractive to nesting, roosting and ‘loafing’ birds” are properly managed.
“Loafing” is the scientific term for when a bird is displaying relaxed behaviors not specifically related to feeding, breeding, or predator evasion. As you can see, New Guy really knows how to loaf. We’re hoping for some uneventful weeks full of loafing ahead of us pic.twitter.com/J1F8oW5cNg
— CalFalconCam (@CalFalconCam) April 10, 2022
They say signs should be put up to discourage people from feeding birds.
With this latest example of the plans causing a flap, council planning chiefs will have much to mull over when considering the proposals.
You can see the plans for yourself using these links:
Great Western Road nursery becoming home
Conversation