Proposal for new retail space in Whitehills approved by Aberdeenshire Council
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Plans to build a new retail space in Whitehills which would incorporate the former Cutty Bar and Restaurant have been approved by Aberdeenshire Council.
An application was submitted to the local authority by agent Mantell Ritchie on behalf of applicant Billy Gatt.
The proposal was for full planning permission for the erection of a retail unit including a café; and alterations and change of use of the public bar and restaurant to retail at the building at 8 Loch Street.
The two-storey property is situated in the centre of the village in between Loch Street and Loch Lane and has a large vacant area for car parking.
In the local authority's planning assessment report it said: "The proposal consists of alterations and change of use of the existing public bar/restaurant to retail use and erection of a new single storey building of six metres in height to the north of the site to include a retail unit and a café.
"The development would be accessed from the public road via the existing egress and nine parking spaces in the existing yard area would be utilised for the new development."
The main planning issues that were considered by the planning service were the principle of development, design, the impact on amenity of the surrounding area, and vehicular access, parking, and services.
The report added: "The current applicant seeks planning permission for continued commercial use of the site, but for retailing and café.
"The proposed development includes alterations to the existing building to remove a lean-to extension to the north-east and erection of a new building containing a shop and a café. The existing pub and restaurant would be used for retail storage.
"Given the mixed uses in the vicinity and the existing commercial uses of the site, continued commercial uses to incorporate a shop and a café replacing the pub and restaurant would not be incompatible with the rest of land uses in the surrounding area.
"The planning service considers that the proposed development would not erode the character or amenity of the surrounding area. Therefore, under the terms of the policies, the proposed development is acceptable in principle."
The service outlined that the design, layout, siting, scale, and building materials of the new development are appropriate.
On the impact on the amenity of the area the council's environmental health department considered the submitted noise impact assessment and odour impact assessment reports and raised no objection to the proposal.
With regards to access and servicing the roads service had no objection to the vehicle accesses and parking spaces. Waste management also had no issues with the application.
The council received three objections from the public over the plans which raised the issues of concerns over noise from the air source heat pumps; lack of parking spaces; and concerns over seagulls nesting due to the flat roof.
The report outlined: "There is no indication that the access is unsafe to the public and the parking provision is sufficient.
"There is also no known flooding issue as a result of the proposed development. The area does not lie within the SEPA flood map.
"Scottish Water have not indicated that there is any capacity issue to their surface water drainage network in the area.
"Concerns relating to seagull nesting are of general matters in towns near the sea, are not exclusive to the proposed development and would not be a valid reason for refusal of the application."
In its conclusion the planning service outlined that the application be approved.
The report said: "The proposal complies with relevant policies of the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2017, in that the proposed development is acceptable in principle; the layout, siting and design of the new building would not have adverse impact on the character of the locality and amenity of the existing neighbouring properties.
"Therefore, the planning service is in a position to support this application."
