Agendas, reports and minutes

Minute of the meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 26 April 2016 at 10.30 am.

Committee Members Present:

Mr D Bremner, Mrs I Campbell, Mrs G Coghill, Mr G Farlow, Mr B Fernie, Mr C Fraser, Mr D MacKay, Mrs A MacLean, Mrs I McCallum, Mr D Millar (excluding Item 6.2), Mrs M Paterson, Mr I Renwick, Mr A Rhind, Dr A Sinclair and Ms M Smith.

Non-Members present:

Mr A Mackinnon

Officials in attendance:

Mr A Mackenzie, Legal Manager (Regulatory Services) and Clerk
Ms J Bridge, Senior Engineer (Development Management)
Miss C McArthur, Solicitor (Regulatory Services)
Mr D Jones, Area Planning Manager North
Mr D Mudie, Team Leader, Planning
Mr B Robertson, Principal Planner
Mrs E McArthur, Principal Planner
Mrs R Hindson, Planner
Mr D Barclay, Planner
Miss J Greene, Administrative Assistant

Business

Mrs Isobel McCallum in the Chair

The Chair confirmed that the meeting would be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and would be archived and available for viewing for 12 months.

1. Apologies 
Leisgeulan

Apologies were intimated on behalf Mr M Finlayson. 

2.  Declarations of Interest 
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

There were no declarations of interest.

3.  Confirmation of Minutes
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There had been submitted for confirmation as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 22 March 2016 which was APPROVED.

4.  Major Applications 
Iarrtasan Mòra

There had been circulated Report No PLN/019/16 by the Head of Planning and Building Standards providing an update on progress of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination.

The Committee NOTED the Report.

5.  Major Developments – pre-application consultation
Leasachaidhean mòra – co-chomhairle ro-iarrtais

5.1  Description: Construction of 5 single storey whisky maturation warehouses and associated infrastructure (16/00165/PAN) (PLN/020/16)
Ward:  8
Applicant: The Glenmorangie Company
Site Address:  Glenmorangie Distillery, Glenmorangie, Tain   

There had been circulated Report No PLN/020/16 by the Area Planning Manager on the submission of a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN), describing the site and setting out likely relevant policies and potential material planning considerations.

The Committee AGREED that there were no further material considerations to bring to the applicant’s attention.

5.2  Description: Proposed feed plant (16/01551/PAN) (PLN/021/16)
Ward:  11
Applicant: Marine Harvest Scotland Ltd
Site Address: Land at Kyleakin Quarry, Kyleakin  

There had been circulated Report No PLN/021/16 by the Area Planning Manager on the submission of a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN), describing the site and setting out likely relevant policies and potential material planning considerations.

The Committee AGREED subject to making clear that issues surrounding odour and noise be included, there were no further material considerations to bring to the applicant’s attention.

6.  Planning Applications to be Detemined
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

6.1 Applicant: Tulloch Homes Ltd (15/04331/FUL) (PLN/022/16)
Location: Ness Gap, Ness Road, Fortrose (Ward 10)
Nature of Development: Change of house types (plots 112 and 122 - 127) (planning permission 13/01211/MSC) and erection of three additional houses (plots 128 - 130)
Recommendation: Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/022/16 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein.

The Planning Officer responded to Members comments as follows:

• the first condition in the report related to a developer contribution towards improving traffic signage etc to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority in consultation with Transport Scotland.

The Committee AGREED the recommendation.

6.2 Applicant: Mrs M Sutherland per Heartland Home Services (16/00382/FUL) (PLN/023/16)
Location: Land 60 m NE of Bridgeside, Dalchalm, Brora (Ward 5)
Nature of Development: Erection of single storey house, extend existing access road, install new septic tank and soakaway
Recommendation: Refuse.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/023/16 by the Area Planning Manager recommending refusal of the application for the reasons detailed therein.

Mrs I McCallum, seconded by Mr A Rhind moved the recommendation.

Ms M Smith, seconded by Mr G Farlow moved as an amendment that the application be approved subject to conditions to be agreed by the Area Planning Manager in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair for the following reason:

It is considered that the proposed development fits in with the existing and proposed settlement pattern of development, rounding off the group of houses and therefore accords with the principles and policies contained within the Development Plan.

On a vote being taken, 2 votes were cast in favour of the motion and 12 in favour of the amendment as follows:

For the motion (2)

Mrs I McCallum and Mr A Rhind.

For the amendment (12)

Mr D Bremner, Mrs I Campbell, Mrs G Coghill, Mr G Farlow, Mr B Fernie, Mr C Fraser, Mr D MacKay, Mrs A MacLean, Mrs M Paterson, Mr I Renwick, Dr A Sinclair and Ms M Smith.

The Committee AGREED to grant subject to conditions to be agreed by the Area Planning Manager in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair.

6.3 Applicant: Miss Augusta Hutt (16/00621/FUL) (PLN/024/16)
Location: Land at 150 m West of Castlehill Croft, Dunbeath (Ward 4)
Nature of Development: Erection of house, installation of septic tank and soakaway (planning in principle)
Recommendation: Refuse.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/024/16 by the Area Planning Manager recommending refusal of the application for the reasons detailed therein. 

The Planning Officer responded to Members comments as follows:

• there had been no changes made to the application from the previous submission, under the regulations for determinations taken with reference to delegated decisions and planning review body decisions, there is no provision in the regulations to prevent the applicant re-applying and the Planning Authority was duty bound to consider applications that had been submitted;
• the frontage available to the applicant along the A9 for access was very limited, the applicant’s current access to her own property had the best access, to relocate the access would involve going outwith her own land;
• Transport Scotland would not recommend signage to address proposed or additional traffic issues, site lines would be limited for people coming out of this access; and
• this road did have a 60 mph speed limit and Transport Scotland had to consider the road as such.

The Committee AGREED the recommendation.

6.4 Applicant: Mrs Claire Ferguson (16/00626/FUL) (PLN/025/16)
Location: 85 High Street, Invergordon, IV18 0AB (Ward 7)
Nature of Development: Part change of use of shop to tea room including takeaway
Recommendation: Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/025/16 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein. 

The Committee AGREED the recommendation.

6.5 Applicant: Mr Andrew Gunn (16/01105/FUL) (PLN/026/16)
Location: Land 55 m West of Newton House, Lybster (Ward 4)
Nature of Development: Erection of house with integral garage and outbuilding, formation of vehicular access (re-application of 15/00915/FUL)
Recommendation: Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/026/16 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein. 

The Planning Officer responded to Members’ comments as follows:

• the building of the wall had been a key policy issue to retain the feeling of the character on entry to the village, the wall was not extensive being primarily to the front of the house and the planning officer was content to extend the time limit for the building of the wall to five years;

Mrs I McCallum, seconded by Dr A Sinclair moved the recommendation with an amendment to condition 3 so that the wall is built within five years of occupation of the house. 

Ms M Smith, seconded by Mr D Bremner moved as an amendment that the application be approved without the inclusion of proposed condition 3.

On a vote being taken, 7 votes were cast in favour of the motion and 8 in favour of the amendment as follows:

For the motion (7)

Mr B Fernie, Mrs A MacLean, Mrs I McCallum, Mr D Millar, Mr I Renwick, Mr A Rhind and Dr A Sinclair.

For the amendment (8)

Mr D Bremner, Mrs I Campbell, Mrs G Coghill, Mr G Farlow, Mr C Fraser, Mr D MacKay, Mrs M Paterson and Ms M Smith.

The amendment therefore became the finding of the meeting and the Committee AGREED the recommendation, subject to the conditions detailed in the Report without the inclusion of proposed condition 3.

7.  Decisions of Appeals to the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning
and Environmental Appeals
Co-dhùnaidhean Ath-thagraidhean do Bhuidheann-stiùiridh Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Ath-thagraidhean Dealbhaidh agus Àrainneachd

7.1 Applicant: Whirlwind Renewables (14/01831/FUL) (PPA-270-2142)
Location: Achlachan 2 Windfarm, Watten, Caithness
Nature of Development: Erection of 3 additional turbines with a max height of 110 m and combined capacity of up to 7.5 mw and associated infrastructure

The Committee NOTED that the appeal to the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals had been allowed and planning permission granted subject to the 20 conditions listed at the end of the decision notice. 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 12.15 pm.