After a site visit to the site of 22 Kinaldie Crescent the Planning Committee voted to refuse planning permission for the building of a new house next to Walker Dam.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

1. Whilst the general principle of residential development within a residentially zoned area is accepted, and the architectural form of the proposed dwelling is considered acceptable, its inappropriate siting relative to existing trees demonstrates a lack of due regard for context, and results in a situation where the proposed dwelling would not make a positive contribution to its setting, as required by policy D1 (Architecture and Placemaking) of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan (ALDP).

2. The impact of the proposal on existing trees, both directly in the formation of the new driveway and in the longer term due to the inappropriate proximity of the new dwelling to retained mature trees, is not considered to be in accordance with policy NE5 (Trees and Woodlands) of the ALDP or the associated 'Trees and Woodlands' supplementary guidance.

3. The increased threat posed to mature retained trees has potential to result in adverse impact on the Walker Dam Local Nature Conservation Site (LNCS), and represents an area of tension with policy NE8 (Natural Heritage).

4. The development would result in encroachment onto an existing area of open space which, though of limited size, makes a positive contribution to local landscape character and visual amenity in this residential area. On that basis, it is considered that the proposal demonstrates a significant degree of tension with policies D6 (Landscape) and H1 (Residential Areas) of the ALDP.