Garioch councillors defer decision on significant housing development for Kintore
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A decision to alter the conditions of an extensive planned housing development for Kintore has been deferred.
Councillors on the Garioch area committee assessed the application at their meeting on Tuesday which seeks to change a number of the conditions applied to the 600 homes scheme on land at Kintore East, which first received planning permission in principle in September 2015.
Applicant The Kintore Consortium and agent Ryden LLP informed Aberdeenshire Council that the planning permission in principle conditions were now problematic and why they had applied for the application made under Section 42 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.
In total 15 conditions are involved in the application to either be altered or removed altogether.
Conditions that are to be varied include those regarding the phasing of the scheme; the timescale of the application; the energy statement; the residential travel plan; the public transport strategy; and the implementation of road junction improvements.
Those that are looking to be removed include a restrictive condition to prevent the occupation of any home prior to January 1, 2017; another restrictive condition to prevent construction starting on the residential development until the construction had started on the new Kintore Primary School; and one that detailed that no building should be constructed within the functional floodplain.
In the report that went before councillors from senior planner Helen Atkinson it said: "The application includes a supporting statement that outlines the planning history of the site, national and local planning policy, along with material considerations and justification for the Section 42.
"It is stated that several meetings have taken place with the council’s planning service relating to the pending matters specified in conditions applications (APP/2016/1330 and APP/2016/2046) and that it became apparent that the general wording of the planning permission in principle (PPiP) conditions were problematic.
"The statement goes on to advise that for a strategic site such as Kintore East, led by a consortium of developers it is not uncommon for the development to be pursued and delivered in phases.
"The phased approach would allow for the site to be developed in smaller pieces that could be brought forward by individual house builders.
"In the supporting statement the agent advises that: ‘….the wording of a number of the existing planning conditions on the PPiP do not allow for such an approach, instead requiring the submission of significant levels of information upfront and on a site-wide basis.’
"The agent further advises that it is the hope of the developers that this Section 42 application would allow the variation of conditions and would facilitate a phased approach to the delivery of the site through subsequent matters specified in conditions applications."
A delgated grant was recommended to the Garioch area committee at its meeting.
The report added: "The proposal, in making efficient use of existing infrastructure, supporting delivery of new infrastructure and the delivery of accessible housing development would contribute towards sustainable development.
"This carries significant material weight lending itself to an approval. The Section 42 application simply seeks to submit some of the required information on a phased basis rather than all on a site wide basis.
"This approach is considered to be acceptable in bringing this site forward to development.
"In assessing the proposed development against the wider policies of Scottish Planning Policy and the Local Development Plan 2017 and any other material considerations, there were no adverse impacts which would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposal."
Aberdeenshire Council received 104 objections to the scheme whose issues included the time the developer has taken to progress the development; the loss of green space at Tuach Hill; the impact on road infrastructure and resultant traffic; and that Kintore does not have sufficient amenities to support this number of additional residents.
Objector Dr Paul Davison spoke as a member of the public during the meeting and said: "The main problem with the Kintore East development is that the community don't see the need for it, don't want it, don't see any benefit in it for them, don't see any beneficial facilities or infrastructure as a result, don't want any development on the floodplain and consider it will have a significant negative impact on Tuach Hill and the surrounding land.
"This was clear from the public meeting about Kintore East back in March.
"The potential impact of the Kintore East development is so great you must consider this application on its merits and all the consequences of the changes to the conditions."
Councillor David Keating had concerns with the request by the developer to extend the application duration by 10 years.
He said: "I would like to request that the planning service re-engage with the developer with a view to reducing the duration of the request for the extension of the planning permission in principle effectively."
He made a motion that the decision be deferred until the next area committee meeting to allow the planning department to do this.
He was supported by Councillor Glen Reid and there was no amendment so the decision was deferred.
