Appeal rejected for Health Centre coffee shop plan

An appeal over a planning application which sought to demolish Inverurie's former Health Centre and replace it with a drive-thru coffee shop has been refused.

Developers West Coast Estates brought forward a project to transform the derelict site into four retail units, with one of those earmarked to be a Starbucks outlet.

Aberdeenshire's planning service rejected the proposals in May after receiving objections over the already congested town centre's lack of parking.

Planners also objected on the assertion that the proposal did not provide an appropriate mix of uses within the town centre and would have encourage further private car use in the heavily congested area due to the drive-thru element.

As the application did not go before members of the Garioch area committee, but was instead refused directly by planners, the appeal was heard by members of the Local Review Body.

This is made up of councillors from across the whole of Aberdeenshire who listed to the appeal at their latest meeting on Friday.

Following discussion by councillors it was agreed to uphold the decision for refusal on the same basis as those put forward by the planning officers.

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