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Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Perth and Kinross councillor calls for urgent review of national planning policy on retail developments
The Planning and Placemaking Committee convener believes the current policy on retail developments "lacks coherence" and risks "stifling competition" Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) planning convener has written to the Scottish Government saying there is an "urgent need" for a review of national planning policy regarding retail. SNP councillor Ian Massie - who wrote to Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee on behalf of PKC's Planning and Placemaking Committee - said the current policy "lacks coherence" and "will not strengthen town centre High Streets". Cllr Massie's committee requested he write the letter after councillors approved a new Lidl supermarket on Perth's Crieff Road, going against the council officers' recommendation of refusal which was based on national policy. On Wednesday, March 12 councillors voted by nine votes to two to grant Lidl permission to invest £10 million building a second Perth store and creating over 30 jobs. They rejected council officers' recommendation to refuse the application, arguing the development would give residents "more choice" and supported the National Planning Framework 4's (NPF4) 20-minute neighbourhoods. The only objector to the application was Tesco, which has a store on the other side of McDiarmid Park from the proposed Lidl site. At the March meeting, convener Ian Massie pledged to write to Scotland's Public Finance Minister raising the committee's concerns about the conflicting national planning policy. In response to a request from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, PKC this week shared both Cllr Massie's letter and the response he received from Ivan McKee MSP. In his letter, Cllr Massie said the current policy could result in "stifling competition". Referring to the committee's decision over the Lidl application, he wrote: "The officers' recommendation was for refusal on the grounds that it did not meet Policy 28: (a) and (c) as it was not located in an existing city, town or local centre, nor was it in an edge of centre area, or an allocated site within the LDP; (b) was not applicable as it did not meets the terms of (a); and also (c) Small scale neighbourhood development because the proposal could not be classed as small scale. "Whilst the committee agreed the criteria for Policy 28 (a) and (c) had not been met they went against officers' advice and granted permission stating that the application should be supported because it would provide over 30 jobs in the local area, help families on limited income afford more with what income they have and aligns with the Scottish Government's approach to 20-minute neighbourhoods , as outlined through Policy 15 of NPF4." He called for planning policy to meet the "specific needs of our communities". The Perth City North ward councillor added: "Currently, the framework for Policy 28 lacks coherence on several crucial aspects, including the balance between High Street regeneration, out-of-town developments, and the promotion of sustainable practices within retail. However fundamentally, there is the lack of a specific reference to what floorspace thresholds should be deemed to define what is small scale neighbourhood development. "Unless there is an early review of the retail policy of NPF4 the likelihood is that the current policy will result in the planning system in Scotland stifling competition in this sector. This will favour those operators who secured consents for out-of-town centre sites over the last 20 years to the detriment of newer and possibly more innovative operators. It will not strengthen town centre High Streets. This is not 'good planning'. " Ivan McKee thanked Cllr Massie for his letter and said the intent of the national planning policy was "to encourage, promote and facilitate retail investment to the most sustainable locations that are most accessible by a range of sustainable transport modes". The Minister for Public Finance said there were a "range of factors" which need to be considered in planning assessments and there were no plans to review the policy. Mr McKee said: " There is no scheduled review of NPF4 at this time, however it is helpful to have your input on the effectiveness of NPF4 policies and I am grateful to you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us."
Edinburgh Live
21-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Cameron Toll shopping centre set to get new 100-room hotel and restaurant
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Plans to build a new hotel at Edinburgh's Cameron Toll shopping centre are set to get the green light. An application was originally submitted back in 2022 for a 160-room guesthouse as a part of wider plans to improve the shopping centre. But the project was put on hold after the applicant was notified of a tree preservation order. Now fresh plans are set to be approved at Edinburgh Council's next Development Management Sub-Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 28. The new plans submitted on behalf of developers, Lady Road Investment SARL, will see a new 109-room hotel with an associated restaurant built at Cameron Toll. As a result, trees will be removed - with replacement ones to be planted across the car park - and the number of parking spaces in the existing car park will be reduced. The application was referred to the Development Management Sub-Committee due to the number of objection letters submitted - but planning officers have recommended that plans for the hotel be granted. In the meeting notice, they wrote: "Overall, the development is in accordance with the development plan. The revised scheme will deliver a sustainable and well-designed development with activation at street level. The proposals include design features that will contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as encouraging biodiversity. "The development will support the existing mixed uses surrounding the site and is consistent with the six qualities of successful places as set out in NPF4. The design draws on the unique townscape characteristics of the site and will create an appropriate sense of place." The recommendation went on to assess several concerns including tree loss as a result of the development and the design of the hotel. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Addressing this, planning officers wrote: "The proposed redevelopment of this section of the site will result in the loss of 118 trees covered by the TPO. "The proposed development will result in the loss of part of a grouping of trees. Compensation planting is proposed within the wider context of the shopping centre and has been set at a higher level than 1:1 planting. "The overall design has been modified to reduce the scale and impact on the key elevations. An appropriate palette of materials is proposed to complement this design. It is recognised that the introduction of a new building of this scale on the site will result in a change to the immediate context. However, it is considered an appropriate design response to this site." They also responded to the concerns raised by residents of the impact the development will have on the nearby Dunedin School. Locals fear that the students will impacted by the noise of the hotel, natural light and privacy will be impeded. They also fear the school will lose space and the construction work would disturb pupils. But the report by planners states: "Environmental Protection have considered the application and consider that due to the position of the hotel within an already busy area there are unlikely to be any noise issues arising from the proposals. "The hotel sits to the north meaning that impediment of natural light should be minimal and no windows relating to bedrooms will overlook it. "There will be no overshadowing of the school due to the orientation of the site with the hotel located to the north of the school. The development will mitigate this to a degree through a landscape scheme which includes a screen fence. "Comments have been made suggesting that the proposals result in a loss of space around the school. There is no change to the site boundaries on the land within which the school operates but the openness of landscaped area to the north will be altered. Alterations within the carpark area will provide additional tree planting, cycle parking and disabled parking. This is not considered to have an adverse impact on the adjacent properties. "Concerns have also been raised by the school that the level of disturbance caused during the construction of the hotel will have a profoundly adverse impact on the operations of the school and the wellbeing of the pupils who attend this facility "Due to the nature of construction there will be a degree of noise generated from the development of this site. This short term impact is accepted, and it is suggested that the developer engages directly with the school on managing the relationship with the school during the construction phase."
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Battery energy storage system on prime agricultural land approved by Perth and Kinross councillors
Perth and Kinross councillors unanimously approved the plans subject to a safety plan given its proximity to the railway The development of a 49.9MW battery energy storage system on prime agricultural land in Perthshire has been given the go-ahead due to it being deemed "essential infrastructure". Consent for the latest Abernethy energy plant is however subject to various planning conditions and informatives including the submission of a Battery Safety Management Plan to Network Rail and adequate fire safety measures. The plans - recommended by planning officers for approval - were granted consent by councillors at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council's Planning and Placemaking Committee on Wednesday, April 14. Opdenergy UK 12 Ltd submitted plans to Perth and Kinross Council to develop the Perthshire village's latest battery energy storage system. The company - registered in Burnham, Buckinghamshire - is run by Spaniards Luis Cid and Abraham Morales, who are part of Opdenergy which has a growing global portfolio of renewable projects. The site is located on part of an arable field - currently in use - at Balgonie Farm, east of Abernethy and 300m west of the existing Abernethy substation. Last year, planning permission was granted for two other 49.9 MW battery energy storage systems to the east of the substation. At Wednesday's meeting, Conservative councillor Keith Allan questioned the loss of prime agricultural land for the development and asked: "Are we happy to lose that?" PKC's Major Applications and Enforcement team leader Sean Panton said: "Yes, it is prime agricultural land. However, NPF4 [National Planning Framework 4) policy five allows for an exception of prime land when it is essential infrastructure and this proposal does constitute essential infrastructure." The report - put before councillors - said the footprint of the project had shrunk by 40 per cent since the pre-application notice was submitted and "it is fully anticipated that, by the time that the proposed BESS is commissioned in 2027, further advances in BESS technology will result in a further reduction in the overall footprint of the development, and therefore, less of an uptake of prime agricultural land". Network Rail initially objected to the proposal and requested additional information in order to fully assess the impact the development would have on the adjacent railway which runs from Perth to Edinburgh. Having reviewed the additional information, Network Rail requested Opdenergy UK 12 submit a site-specific Battery Safety Management Plan, further fire safety information and a surface and foul water drainage scheme. Cllr Richard Watters questioned how these matters would or were being addressed. Mr Panton explained a further planning condition would be needed, if approved, which was missing from the report put before councillors. He said: "The condition would be that they would need to submit a site-specific battery safety management plan which would identify proposed fire detection systems being installed and how that would relate to the railway line." Moving the plans for approval, Kinross-shire SNP councillor Richard Watters - who convenes PKC's Climate Change and Sustainability Committee - said: "We do need that security for energy supply. It does provide a really good one and we've got solar and energy from waste that will be in that area soon enough. "I think having the ability to store that energy when there is surplus on the go and use it when maybe the wind isn't blowing or Scottish winter doesn't have that much sunshine, I think it's important we have these applications coming forward. "There is a concern with the prime agricultural land but the really good thing is the technology is allowing the footprint of it to get smaller." The plans were seconded by SNP councillor Ken Harvey and unanimously approved by the committee, subject to conditions.
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Plans for new Edinburgh wellness centre approved at vacant Leith Walk shop
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Plans have been approved to turn an empty Edinburgh shop into a new wellness centre offering yoga, Pilates, art classes and health coaching. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The application by Marie Helen Fryman Kunert to transform this former architect's office at 378 Leith Walk into an unnamed new wellness centre, were approved by the City of Edinburgh Council's planning department on April 22. The application site is a ground floor end-terrace commercial unit within a three-storey tenement building, situated within the Pilrig Conservation Area. The proposals received no comments on the council's planning portal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There will be minor alterations to the internal floor plan such as the installation of some stud partition walls, as well as an internal fit-out to support the proposal. No alterations to the external elevations are planned, while any future alterations to signage would be submitted via an associated advertising consent application. Approving the plans, the council's chief planning officer David Givan said: 'The proposal is acceptable in principle in that the proposed use of the application site as a yoga and pilates studio would represent a congruous addition that would harmoniously relate to the mixed-use nature of the locus. 'In addition, the proposal would not undermine the overall retail offering of the area by virtue of the application site being in Class 4 use. Furthermore, the introduction of a wellness orientated use would contribute towards the vitality and vibrancy of the locus. 'The proposal is acceptable and would accord with the objectives of relevant policies within the LDP and NPF 4. It would not have an unacceptable impact on amenity. No material considerations outweigh this conclusion.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former architect's office on Leith Walk will now become a new wellness centre after the plans were approved. | Google Maps Sign up for our Breaking Newsletter and stay up to date on the latest news stories from Edinburgh and the Lothians. In the planning documents, the applicant's agent, Planning By Design, said: 'The re-use of the building's ground and basement floor contributes to the areas' regeneration and improvement. 'The business will also be employment-led and provide local jobs as well as work with and support local suppliers. The proposal will bring the building back into active usage and maintain a mixed-use building. 'The proposal is expected to offer a high-quality design, no changes to the external elevations are proposed, and signage consent will be sought via an associated application, if required. As such, the proposed use will not harm the visual amenity of the property or the character surrounding area, including the Conservation Area. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The enterprise is relatively small in scale and the will be centred around well-being, health and relaxation; therefore, it would not be out of character with the area or result in excessive noise and disturbance to neighbouring residents or business owners. 'The proposal will deliver across all three planning goals for sustainable development, including the environmental, social, and economic benefits to the applicants, and the local community, while not resulting in any detrimental harm to the surrounding area, neighbouring occupiers, or local existing uses.' The new business will be open seven days a week, from 6am to 8.30pm, with sessions running for 45 minutes with a minimum 30-minute changeover, minimising congestion. There will be a maximum of 10 attendees per session for yoga, while workshops such as art classes will host up to 20 attendees. Massage and health coaching are one-on-one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At any given time, there will typically be no more than 40 clients and staff combined on the premises, with typically, 2-4 staff members onsite at a time, including instructors and receptionists. Planning By Design added: 'Activities will be designed to be quiet and unobtrusive, with no amplified sound systems or disruptive equipment. There will be careful scheduling and customer flow management to ensure no overcrowding or excessive noise at entrances. Deliveries will be minimal and scheduled during standard hours to avoid disruption.'
Edinburgh Live
29-04-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
New plans for former Edinburgh law building to be demolished for student flats
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info New plans to demolish a former Edinburgh law building for student flats are to be submitted after previous proposals were unsuccessful. In June 2024 the Development Management Sub Committee refused permission for 174 student beds at 140 Causewayside, the former Scottish Law Commission building. Despite council planning officers recommending approval, the development was refused permission and a subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Scottish Government. According to the council, the block of flats would have had an "adverse impact on the setting of the adjacent listed tenement" as well as resulting in an "excessive concentration of student accommodation." The decision notice added: "The proposals have failed to demonstrate that the existing building cannot be reused contrary to NPF 4 Policy 9.5. The proposals fail to deliver the provision of outdoor space with access for all. "The proposed development will have an adverse impact on amenity of adjacent residents and future occupiers." Despite the refusal, Balfour Beatty Investments has submitted a pre-application notice to the council for the demolition of the existing building and erection of purpose-build student accommodation with associated works. More details on the number of beds and alterations to the previous application are expected in the coming months. The rejected application would have resulted in 174 student bedrooms rooms in total. The accommodation included six cluster flats, each containing six, eight or nine bedrooms with shared kitchen/ lounge facilities providing 48 bed spaces (28 per cent) and 126 studio rooms (72 per cent) of which nine will be accessible studio rooms. Internal amenity space was proposed including an informal communal lounge area at ground floor level which would have faced onto the principal Causewayside street frontage. Additional communal amenity space is provided at lower ground floor level, comprising of a general amenity space and quiet study area, which was also included in the proposals.
