Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals lodged across the north-east.
Our first instalment of June features a look ahead to the Nuart festival, with plans to turn several buildings into huge canvases now officially signed off.
The visiting street artists aren’t the only ones getting creative though, as developers are eyeing up a long-abandoned warehouse on Littlejohn Street as industrial-chic offices.
And the owner of a crab-shaped home in Johnshaven, something of a work of art in itself, wants to boost its eco credentials.
But we begin with good news for Aberdeen’s Siberia bar…
New bar to be added to Siberia – and doughnut shop opening next door!
The Belmont Street institution is in the midst of a major overhaul – expanding into neighbouring units once occupied by a record store and cheese toastie shop.
As part of the revamp, bosses last summer lodged plans for a string of changes to the building (covered in Planning Ahead at the time)…
And they’ve now been given permission to press ahead with the work to replace guest rooms and dining areas with an extra bar – and three flats.
Also included in the package, officers have rubber-stamped plans to turn the former Melt cheese toastie outlet into a new doughnut shop.
Hotel space at basement level will become a new bar, with a terrace facing out onto Denburn Road.
Meanwhile, office space on the first floor will become a big two-bedroom flat, while the hotel restaurant on the second floor will be turned into two one-bedroom apartments.
The council’s planning department say the changes will be good for the area.
But approving the proposal, they insisted that measures are put in place to stop noise from the pub disturbing residents in the new flats.
New changing rooms at university tennis courts
Meanwhile, Aberdeen University is serving up plans to boost the tennis courts on its historic campus.
They want to turn a flat in the B-listed King’s Pavilion building into a new changing facility next to the recently refurbished courts.
New units for firefighter training centre
Aberdeenshire Council has endorsed plans to help firefighters keep their skills sharp.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been given permission for two shipping containers at its Fire Training Centre in Portlethen.
Measuring 10m long and 3m wide, they will be used as storage and for “fire investigation tests” at the Badentoy Industrial Estate complex.
Solar panels for garden of unusual crab-shaped home
One of Aberdeenshire’s most striking homes is surely the Crab House in Johnshaven.
The coastal eco home has been built in the form of a crustacean, with “claws” at the front and a pair of circular windows resembling eyes.
It was listed for sale for £375,000 in 2021, with the below video showing off the quirky property:
The Mearns marvel appeared in Planning Ahead last year when its new owner Christopher Pearson formed proposals to paint it red.
And it has sidled back into the round-up this week, with Mr Pearson keen to install solar panels… But not on the roof.
Due to the eco-friendly “living” roof of the Crab House, the solar panels can’t go in the usual spot.
So Mr Pearson is asking for permission to put them in the garden.
He explains: “Due to our house having a living roof the solar panels will be erected on the ground, on a graveled area to the side of the main house.
“The proposed area is unseen from neighbours and any public paths or roads.”
The owner documents life “living in a crab house” on social media, with a focus on their sustainable lifestyle:
Crumbling church wall needs replaced
The Church of Scotland wants to replace a crumbling old wall at the 19th century Huntly Parish Church.
The boundary in question is shared with two houses on Richmond Road, and is reaching breaking point.
A report sent to Aberdeenshire Council states: “There remains concerns about the structural integrity of this eastern boundary wall.”
It comes after engineers identified “serious structural defects”, with the wall still “precarious” even after trees were removed to relieve pressure on it.
King Edward pet crematorium plans
Daryl Thomson wants to create a pet cremation facility at his home of North Garrochie House near Banff.
An application shows how the addition would be formed outside his home.
Currently, people in this corner of the north-east would have to travel to Balmedie, Aberdeen or Keith to have their companions cremated.
Peterhead health group wants to open new studio
Peterhead’s Forbes Health Group wants to expand into a disused outbuilding formerly owned by a now-closed takeaway nearby.
The clinic carries out podiatry, physiotherapy and hypnotherapy, among other services, at 18 Back Gate.
Bosses have now filed proposals to convert a hut at the rear of 16 Back Gate into a new studio.
Aberdeen mum’s renewed plea to keep rogue fence
In February, Planning Ahead detailed the unusual row surrounding a large fence in the Powis area of Aberdeen.
Ruma Begum said she put up the structure due to feeling “intimidated” by new neighbours.
She replaced a small metal fence with the bulky wooden barrier now in place, “affording the flats she shares with family more privacy”.
But the mum only sought permission retrospectively, and council planning chiefs were unconvinced about the 1.9m barrier.
A report slammed its “significant adverse visual impact on the existing streetscape and on the residential character of the area”.
And they ordered it to be removed…
But Ms Begum has now pledged to make changes in the hopes of changing their minds.
Fresh documents submitted to the council explain that she is prepared to cut it down to 1.2m in height, and paint it green “to reduce the impact”.
Kincardine Castle home improvement plans approved
Now we travel from Donside to Deeside, with an update on plans to adapt Kincardine Castle.
Earlier this year, the owners of the 19th century landmark forged plans to make it more homely.
Since the 1990s it has been split, acting as both a guesthouse and a family home.
Papers lodged with Aberdeenshire Council this spring explained how this can cause conflict – especially since a new generation with a young family took over in 2021.
They plotted upgrades “to make the house work better as a family home at the same time as the guesthouse”.
Among the measures, changes would be made to prevent visitors and the family crossing paths on the way to the toilet, a situation deemed “unsatisfactory”.
Historic Environment Scotland has given the proposals its blessing, saying the alterations will “reestablish elements of the building” lost during work in recent decades.
And the local authority has now rubber-stamped the scheme.
It comes as plans for a more famous castle have also been approved…
Roof of historic boathouse needs emergency work
Wealthy landowner George Pearson, the fifth generation of his family to own Stonehaven’s Dunottar Castle, has submitted plans for another property on their land.
Mr Pearson, whose dad Charles owns the 53,000 acre Dunecht Estates, wants to embark on a package of repairs to prevent damage to a historic boathouse at the Loch of Skene.
The boathouse, next to a pair of towers occupied as flats across four floors, provides access to the expanse used by the Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club.
Its flat concrete roof is now in need of “essential” work, with an asphalt covering “extensively split”.
Papers sent to the council explain: “As a consequence of the defects, water is leaking into the boathouse with the potential of damage to be caused to the reinforced concrete structural deck.”
The owners want to replace the existing asphalt covering, along with damaged pavement lights designed to let light flood into the structure.
A statement sent to the authority concludes: “The work proposed is essential to preserve the building fabric.”
These images show the damage:
Earlier this year, we covered plans to enhance the 100-year-old gates next to the towers.
Derelict building abandoned for 40 years could become trendy Littlejohn Street offices
A non-descript building next to the Six Degrees North bar on Aberdeen’s Littlejohn Street could be in line for a dramatic offices makeover.
Developer Martin Gilbert wants to transform the two-storey building after decades of decay.
The derelict unit “appears to have been last used by Aberdeen University, possibly in the 1980s.”
Photos submitted alongside the application show the grimy interior:
Blueprints indicating how it could be revived show how there would be meeting rooms along with “breakout” areas and a “chill area” on the ground floor.
The existing granite walls would be exposed in a deliberate stylish touch.
There would be open plan space for 12 workers on the first floor, along with other communal areas and “contemporary roof lights”.
The designs also show how the stone walls and ceiling services would be left exposed.
And Fitzgerald and Associates architects say brick ceilings would be left as they are to “give an industrial attic style feel to the office space”.
Council planners welcomed the latest attempt to breathe new life into the site.
Approving Mr Gilbert’s vision, they praised the “re-use of a derelict building” to boost city centre footfall.
They added: “Given that the premises have been vacant for a significant time (over 20 years), and has a lengthy history of unimplemented planning permissions, the proposed use would enhance the viability and vitality of the city centre.”
An abundance of peckish office workers there would be good news for Smoke and Soul, as the BBQ street food firm recently took over the bar next door.
The Littlejohn Stret offices plan was initially approved in 2020, but waylaid by the pandemic.
Aberdeen City Council has now given the work renewed permission.
Which walls are getting Nuart transformation?
Finally, we take a look at plans for the imminent return of a popular festival bringing a fresh coat of paint to some prominent Granite City buildings.
With Nuart artists preparing to unveil their huge designs within days, organisers Aberdeen Inspired were given official permission to revitalise 1o walls on Friday.
Our map shows each location where work is taking place:
Papers sent to the council explain that the tradition, now in its sixth year, has “blossomed into a flagship cultural event”.
And here are some of the buildings soon to be given a thought-provoking new look:
Read more about punk legend Jamie Reid’s plans for the festival here – and the surprising role Aberdeen played as he forged a history-making bond with Sex Pistols.
And find everything you need to know about Nuart 2023 here.
You can see this week’s plans for yourself using these links:
Aberdeen University tennis plans
Littlejohn Street offices plan
Conversation