Yard extension and fencing at Clancool Refrigiration LTD Buchanan House Tumulus Way Midmill Business Park Kintore

What was proposed

The application sought to extend an existing business yard and provide walls, fencing, gates and additional storage space.

“Full planning permission is sought for the extension of the yard area and erection of fencing, walls and gates at Clancool Refrigeration LTD, Buchanan House, Tumulus Way, Midmill Business Park, Kintore.”

“It is proposed to extend the yard area associated with the existing business (Clancool Refrigeration LTD at Buchanan House) to provide additional storage area/space to the business. The use of the adjacent plot would avoid splitting operations across two separate geographic sites, which would increase heavy goods vehicle (HGV) trips, carbon emissions, and operational inefficiencies. The proposed yard area would be approximately 34m in width by 27m in depth.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was open grassland at a prominent corner within Kintore’s employment land, surrounded by industrial buildings, warehouses and car sales.

“The site is located within the Kintore settlement boundary within an area designated as employment land, BUS 3 as defined by Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2023. The site is accessed off Tumulus Way which runs along the site’s northern boundary and is located to the east of the Broomhill roundabout. The immediate surrounding area is characterised by car sales, industrial buildings, and warehouses.”

“The application site does not contain any permanent structures and currently functions as an area of open space (undeveloped area of maintained grassland). The site is located at a prominent corner at the intersection between the B987 (west) and Tumulus Way. The land is generally level in profile with several mature and semi mature trees dispersed across the site.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier permissions covered business and industrial use of landscaped land, while 2024 advice concerned changing landscaped ground to a storage yard.

“APP/2010/2287: Change of Use of Designated Landscaped Land to Business and Industrial Use and Extension of Workshop and Offices incorporating Surface Water Drainage Pond and Replacement Landscaping (including Mezzanine Floor) Approved 12 August 2010”

“ENQ/2024/0636: Change of Use of Landscaped Ground to Storage Yard (Use Class 6); Advice issued on 31 May 2024”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Drainage, natural-environment and roads consultees accepted the revised proposals, while Scottish Gas Network reported no high-pressure assets nearby.

“Environment and Infrastructure Services (Natural Environment) initially requested the applicant to submit additional information regarding the trees on site and landscaping and biodiversity enhancement measures.”

“Scottish Gas Network confirmed that it does not have any High-Pressure assets within the vicinity of the application and as such would have no comment or objections.”

Officer report

Public representations

No valid representations were received about the application.

“No valid representations have been received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Senior Planner explained the site, proposed works, open-space considerations, access arrangements and the business’s need to expand.

Members’ discussion

Members were generally content but remained concerned about a medium-pressure gas line and requested a strongly worded informative.

“Members clarified that the site did not have additional access close to the junction and the Senior Planner confirmed that access would be through the existing access to the business. Members highlighted the indication that there was a medium pressure gas line identified near to the site, which may have some link to the site itself. The Senior Planner confirmed that Scottish Gas Network had been consulted but that it only considered high pressure lines.”

“Members were generally content with the application but remained concerned about the gas line and requested that a strongly worded informative be added to ensure that the applicant is fully aware of how to check the risks and what requires to be done before commencing with any activity on site.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee agreed the development-plan departure and delegated authority to grant permission with a gas-line informative and six conditions.

“Storage yard hereby approved shall be used only for purposes incidental to the business operations at Clancool Refrigeration LTD, Buchanan House, Tumulus Way, Midmill Business Park, Kintore, as a storage yard and shall be used for no other purpose without the express grant of planning permission from the planning authority.”

Minutes