Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals lodged across the north-east.
The new year could bring with it a fresh start for some prominent empty buildings.
The former Ellon TSB could be brought back to life as a restaurant under fresh plans, while an old shop in the heart of Ballater might become a cafe after lying vacant since suffering severe damage in Storm Frank.
Meanwhile, a new drive-thru could be coming to Aberdeen, with discussions at an “advanced stage” over a potential new site at Altens.
But first, we look at proposals to keep some historic gates from becoming a state…
Estate owner repairing gates erected by his great-grandfather
Dunecht Estate is one of the largest privately owned expanses of land in Scotland, measuring 53,000 acres.
It is the property of the Honorable Charles Pearson, who is the millionaire son of the 3rd Viscount Cowdray.
The huge Dunecht House stately home, which was sold to Optima founder Jamie Oag for £1.2 million in 2012, sits at the centre of the grounds near Westhill.
Now the ornate gates leading from the Loch of Skene to the 24-bedroom property are in need of some TLC.
The gates date back about 100 years and were put in place by Mr Pearson’s great-grandparents the 1st Lord Cowdray and Countess Annie.
They were part of “extensive works” carried out by the aristocrats around the time of the First World War.
The A-listed wrought-iron gates are now rusty and peeling, and Glasgow-based engineers Walter MacFarlane and Co reckon the corrosion is “cause for concern”.
They have outlined a package of repairs to restore them to their former glory, with work pencilled in for spring or summer.
Renovations to keep costs down at old church manse turned into home
The five-bedroom Monecht House at Echt – which is also on the Dunecht Estate – was sold for about £500,000 in December 2021.
The former Free Church manse was built in 1851 and became a doctor’s house in the 1930s.
Owner David Smith, a director at plant wholesalers Springhill Nurseries, is now planning a string of renovations to keep bills at the outdated property down.
He needs permission to repoint stone walls and install insulation at the C-listed house.
Mr Smith also wants to improve the kitchen and add an en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom.
Papers submitted to Aberdeenshire Council by Glenglass architects explain that new electrics, heating and plumbing are needed “due to the age of the property”.
They add: “In response to the rising cost of fuel, energy efficiency improvements include the insulation of the building, air source technology for underfloor heating and double glazed windows throughout.”
Plea to keep ‘shepherd’s hut’ on The Green for three more years
The owner of Aberdeen’s Cafe 52, Steve Bothwell, is seeking permission to keep a “shepherd’s hut” outside the city centre bistro for three more years.
The addition to The Green has been in place since 2019, but council officers ordered it be removed by November 2022.
They said this was to protect the character of the traditional area, believed to be the “early nucleus” of medieval Aberdeen.
Now Mr Bothwell is seeking to retain it until November 2025.
Whisky firm to steady historic Huntly bridge
Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky (DTSW) is doing up Huntly’s Castle Hotel after buying the property for almost £1.25 million in 2021.
Amid continuing renovation works, the firm has now formed plans to repair the 17th-century bridge leading to the venue.
DTSW wants to carry out a string of upgrades including repointing the River Deveron crossing and “addressing outward movement” of one of the walls.
Masonry “disturbed by vegetation” will be fixed, and stainless steel rods inserted to help steady the Castle Bridge where possible.
Huntly farmer could bypass ‘unfair’ supermarkets with new shop
Elsewhere in Huntly, plans have been lodged for a new farm shop and cafe.
James C Innes and Sons want to build the new destination next to land earmarked for the £5 million Linnorie business park – which could bring a McDonalds and Starbucks to the outskirts of the town.
The new farm shop and cafe would be across the A97 Huntly to Gartly road from Linnorie Firewood Services, just off the A96 roundabout.
John Wink designers say the development will “allow a local farmer to sell his produce
directly to customers”, and has been “driven by growing consumer demand for local produce”.
They also blast supermarkets “refusing to pay farmers a fair price for produce despite the rising cost in fertilisers, feed and fuel”.
These design images show how the new farm shop and cafe would look:
Plans for reinforced fence in Old Aberdeen after storm damage
Aberdeen University has lodged plans to remove what remains of a wind-ravaged timber fence on Don Street, to make way for a stronger iron replacement.
The wooden version has been left with a big hole after Storm Arwen knocked the central section down.
Scores of trees were toppled in the nearby Cruickshank Gardens too as chaos reigned across the region.
Could a new drive-thru be coming to Aberdeen?
Elsewhere in Aberdeen, tentative plans for a new drive-thru restaurant at Altens have been lodged.
Project Triptych Ltd wants to create a new facility in the car park of a retail complex at Wellington Circle.
It comes following the success of a Starbucks drive-thru at the retail park, which also boasts an Ikea and a Pure Gym.
Since then, space at Berryden retail park across the city has been turned into a Burger King and Starbucks is working on plans for such a facility at the Queen’s Links Leisure Park.
Project Triptych says they are in “advanced discussions and legal negotiations” with an operator who has a “strong interest” in the project.
The work would result in the loss of 84 parking spaces.
But bosses have supplied a survey indicating there would still be sufficient room there.
The proposal was approved in March 2020, but work was waylaid due to the pandemic and the plans never got off the ground.
Now running out of time to complete it within the allotted three years, this fresh application has been submitted.
A drive-thru Greggs was recently approved at Westhill, while a drive-thru Tim Hortons will be opening nearby in Aberdeen this year.
Fast food fans will be keen to see what the latest venue could be.
Maud mill could become huge home
Akeim Sinon has formed plans to turn a disused 19th-century mill into a huge new home in Maud.
Mr Sinon, who lives in Stuartfield, aims to create the five-bedroom property on land just off Park Crescent.
Toilets for fishermen at Sandhaven Harbour
Sandhaven and Pitullie Harbour Trust has been given permission to erect a new toilet block at a historic north-east pier.
The conveniences will be for the use of inshore fishermen with boats at Sandhaven Harbour, port staff and members of the public.
The building, measuring 4.8m long and 1.4m wide, will have four toilets and four sinks.
Closed Ellon TSB poised for new lease of life as a restaurant?
The TSB in Ellon was closed last April as the bank slashed branches across Scotland.
Now the 34/36 Bridge Street building could be revitalised – as a new town centre restaurant.
The plans have been lodged by Sava Estates, who also own the flats above.
Their agents, Bennetts, say there would be a “state-of-the-art extraction system” fitted as part of the revamp.
And the premises would be open from 10am-11pm Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
There would be space at the rear for seven or eight cars.
No indication has yet been given of a potential operator for the new eatery.
But Bennetts adds: “The proposed new restaurant will see an existing vacant building transformed into a new food outlet.
“The presence of this new facility will help to animate the local area.
“The splay of light from the windows, particularly in the evening and in the winter months, will help reinforce a sense of safety.”
Scroll back and forth to see how the old Ellon TSB could be transformed into a restaurant:
Meanwhile, plans are underway to turn the former TSB in the Mannofield area of Aberdeen into a cafe, the former Banchory branch could form part of a new shops and flats complex and the Huntly building is becoming a whisky shop.
What sort of restaurant do you think Ellon could do with? Let us know in our comments section below
Ballater building could become cafe years after deluge
Finally, we have a look at plans that really show the long-lasting impact of Storm Frank flooding that swept through Ballater seven years ago.
Many properties near the overflowing River Dee were destroyed in the disaster.
That included the C-listed former home of Rowan Antiques at 5-7 Victoria Road.
The building has now lain empty for seven years, while the shop relocated.
Now Dasha Mukhina has submitted plans to transform it into a new cafe.
Her agents, James Huntly architectural services, say: “Currently it is in a state of disrepair due to the severe flooding in 2015, as it was never reinstated.”
And the plans take into account the risk of possible future flooding.
There will be a concrete floor, covered in tiles, and all electrical services would be placed higher than 1m.
The walls would be made of treated timber, and special insulation material will be used.
There are also plans to do up the flat upstairs, which was latterly used as storage space by Rowan Antiques.
However, the council’s environmental health department is seeking more information on the type of food to be served at the cafe, warning that work may be needed to limit any smells reaching the home.
And you can see this week’s plans for yourself using these links:
Ellon TSB restaurant plans
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