Minutes of Meeting of the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications Committee commenced at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 12 April 2011.
Present:
Mr R Balfour (Items 3.2 – 4.2 only)
Mr S Black
Miss J Campbell
Mr J Crawford
Mrs M Davidson
Mr D Fallows
Mr J Finnie
Mr A Graham (Items 3.6 – 4.2 only)
Mr J Gray (Chair)
Mr D Henderson (Items 3.5 – 4.2 only)
Mr D Kerr
Mrs L Macdonald
Mr S Park
Mr H Wood
Mr B Wynd
Non-Members Present:
Mr L Fraser
Mr G Marsden
Officials in attendance:
Mr D Polson, Area Planning and Building Standards Manager
Mr J Harbison, Principal Planner
Ms N Drummond, Team Leader, Planning and Development Service
Mr R Evans, Area Roads and Community Works Manager, TEC Services
Mr R Patton, Principal Officer (Land), Planning & Development Services
Ms S Blease, Solicitor (Clerk)
Miss M MacLeod, Business Support Officer, Chief Executive’s Office
Mr K Gordon, Acting Administrative Assistant, Chief Executive’s Office
Councillor J Gray in the Chair
Business
There were no declarations of interest.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr I Brown and Mr J Holden.
Mr H Wood reiterated his apologies for having missed the previous site visit to Loch Ness on 21 March 2011 and requested that for any future site visits, local members be consulted to ensure availability. The Chair noted Mr Wood’s request but commented that it was difficult to schedule additional meetings and site visit dates which suited all Members and officers
2. Minutes
In relation to the minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2011, it was noted that Mr D Henderson’s name had been omitted from the list of those Members voting for the amendment in Item 3.2.
The Committee AGREED the content of the minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2011 subject to the inclusion of Mr D Henderson in the list of Members voting for the amendment at Item 3.2.
3. Planning Application to be Determined
There had been circulated Report Nos. PLI-17/11 – PLI-29/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager as follows:-
Item 3.1
P Allison 10.04634/FUL (PLI-17-11 (1) | PLI-17-11 (2)) Lodgehill Clinic, Lodgehill Road, Nairn
A site inspection for this Item had taken place earlier on the morning of the meeting.
Mr Mr L Fraser and Mr G Marsden had requested, and been granted, a local member vote for this item pursuant to standing order 13.2.
However, at the commencement of this Item, Mr G Marsden stated that he had decided not to take part in the determination of this application as he felt he may have inadvertently made a comment about the application which could be misconstrued as having reached his decision on the application prior to the meeting.
Mr J Harbison outlined the application and report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions recommended in the report. Mr Harbison noted that there had been a large number of objections relating to this application, mainly relating to:
- height;
- overall design; and
- traffic considerations.
Members expressed concern regarding a number of issues relating to this application. Their comments were noted as follows:
- the size of the development would mean a loss of privacy to surrounding properties;
- the overall height of the development was out of keeping with the other properties in the area. Most were 2 storey buildings whilst this was 3 storeys in places;
- the modern design would look out of place in this area;
- there was limited parking on site for the number of flats;
- there would be a loss of parking spaces outside the development site;
- there was a lack of bin storage space for the size of the development; and
- this was overdevelopment for the size of the site.
Some Members commented that the Committee should be encouraging the development of brown field sites wherever possible and that too much emphasis was being be placed on parking issues when the use of public transport and bicycles should be encouraged.
Mr L Fraser, seconded by Mrs L Macdonald, then MOVED that the application be refused on the grounds that the development would not comply with Nairn local plan policy S2 as it failed to safeguard the character of the area by reason of its being overdevelopment and out of proportion with other buildings in the locality and because it would dominate the area due to its height.
There being no Members otherwise minded, the Committee accordingly agreed to REFUSE the application for the reasons put forward in the Motion.
Item 3.2
Mr & Mrs G Rimell 10/04464/FUL (PLI-18-11) Land adjacent to Broomlea, Golf Course Road, Newtonmore
Mr D Polson outlined the application and report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report.
Members noted that the application had been referred to Committee as the application was being made by an elected Member.
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the report.
Item 3.3
Mr George MacLeod 10/04384/FUL (PLI-19-11 ) Turin Nurin, Distillery Woods, Tomatin, Inverness
Ms N Drummond outlined the application and report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report.
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the condititions detailed in the report.
Item 3.4
Mr Ian Morrison 10/02815/PIP (PLI-20-11) Land 10m North of 1 Cabrich, Kirkhill
Ms N Drummond outlined the application and report which recommended that planning permission be refused for the reasons detailed within the report.
Members in support of the application argued that there was already a substantial cluster of houses in this area and that the level of tree removal would be minimal therefore having little impact on the landscape or scenery.
Other Members commented that the guidance provided to the Committee made it clear that the number of houses in the existing grouping had been exceeded already and that this was one development too far.
Mr J Gray, seconded by Mr D Kerr, MOVED that the application be REFUSED planning permission for the reasons detailed within the report.
As an AMENDMENT, Mrs M Davidson, seconded by Mr H Wood, moved that the application be GRANTED planning permission on the grounds that it was in line with policy as part of an existing housing group.
On a vote being taken, the MOTION received 8 votes and the AMENDMENT received 5 votes. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED, the votes being cast as follows:
For the Motion:
Mr S Black
Miss J Campbell
Mr D Fallows
Mr J Finnie
Mr J Gray
Mr D Kerr
Mr S Park
Mr B Wynd
For the Amendment:
Mr R Balfour
Mr J Crawford
Mrs M Davidson
Mrs L MacDonald
Mr H Wood
There were no abstentions.
The Committee accordingly agreed to REFUSE planning permission for the reasons detailed in the report.
Item 3.5
Company Makar Ltd 10/05090/FUL (PLI-21-11 (1) | PLI-21-11 (2) | PLI-21-11 (3) ) Clachandreggy, Torbreck, Inverness
Ms N Drummond outlined the application and report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report.
Members were supportive of this application but asked that one of the conditions be that all commercial traffic use the new access off the B862 so as to alleviate existing problems and disturbance experienced by neighbouring property owners.
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions detailed in the report and the addition of a condition stating that all commercial traffic use the new access road.
Item 3.6
G Kerr 10/04500/FUL (PLI-22-11 ) Former convalescent home, Moss-side Road, Nairn
Ms N Drummond outlined the application and report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report.
Members were supportive of the application stating that any concerns were adequately covered by the conditions.
There were concerns expressed that the outside stairs did not enhance the appearance of the building but noted the officer’s comment that the design of the building did not allow for stairs inside.
Members also commented on the use of matching materials in the build and asked that an additional condition be imposed that where possible reclaimed materials from the existing building which was to be knocked down be used.
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions detailed in the report and to the addition of a condition stating that where possible reclaimed materials from the existing building be used.
Item 3.7
Highland Council 10/05076/FUL (PLI-23-11) Holm Primary School, Ardholm Place, Inverness
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions detailed in the report
Item 3.8
Highland Council 11/00162/FUL (PLI-24-11)
Mr A Graham declared a non financial interest in this item on the grounds that a family member worked at the school and he accordingly did not take part in the determination of the application.
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions detailed in the report
Item 3.9
Highland Football Academy 11/00199/FUL (PLI-25-11) Charleston Academy, General Booth Road, Inverness
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions detailed in the report
Item 3.10
Highland Council 11/00187/FUL (PLI-26-11) Inverness Family resource Centre, Limetree Avenue, Inverness
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions detailed in the report
Item 3.11
Highland Council 11/00580/FUL (PLI-27-11) Inverness High School, Montague Row, Inverness
The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions detailed in the report.
4. Tree Preservation Orders
Item 4.1
Preservation Order No. 107,2010 (PLI-28-11) Lynwood, Skye of Curr Road, Dulnain Bridge
The Committee agreed to CONFIRM the order as it stood.
Item 4.2
Preservation Order No. 109,2010 (PLI-29-11)
The Committee agreed to CONFIRM the order as it stood.
The meeting closed at 12.15pm