The Planning Development Management Committee approved the minutes of the two previous meetings, noted the committee business planner and a digest of planning appeals. The committee also approved an application for a change of use for a site on 201 Union Street from Class 1A (shops, financial professional and other services) to Class 3 (food and drink).

201 Union Street Aberdeen

The application to change the use of 201 Union Street to a restaurant was approved, subject to several conditions.

The Committee heard from the applicant's agent, who spoke in support of the application, before voting to approve the application subject to conditions. The conditions related to odour and noise mitigation for the benefit of the residents living in the five flats on the upper floors.

The application was for the ground and lower-ground floors of the building only, which had previously been in use as a branch of the Bank of Scotland. The building is Category B listed¹ and lies within the Aberdeen City Centre Conservation Area.

A Noise and Odour Impact Assessment had been submitted with the application, which identified several noise mitigation measures that were required to ensure that noise from the restaurant would not be excessive.

The inlet and outlet fan or a combination of the fans and a silencer(s) do not exceed the notional sound power level figures shown in Table 13.

• Couper Acoustics

In particular, the installation of an acoustic ceiling was required, as well as limits on the hours during which the ventilation system could operate. In addition, odour mitigation measures were also required to ensure that smells from the restaurant, which would have a charcoal grill, could be adequately controlled.

Fine Filtration or Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) followed by carbon filtration (carbon filters rated with a 0.4 – 0.8 second residence time) or Fine Filtration or ESP followed by carbon filtration and by counteractant/neutralising system or fine filtration or ESP followed by UV ozone system to achieve the same level of control.

• Couper Acoustics

The Committee also heard from several objectors to the application. Some were concerned that the noise and odour mitigation would not be sufficient, while others were concerned that the change of use would adversely affect the character of the building, which is predominantly residential.

In addition to the conditions relating to odour and noise mitigation, the Committee also added an advisory note to the decision, recommending that the operator of the restaurant establish a written Odour Management Plan.

Councillor McRae, the Committee Convener, stated that:

For the benefit of any doubt, this planning permission does not grant the change of use of the application site to a hot food takeaway / use for the sale of hot food and drink off the premises. The material change of use to such would require planning permission separately.

• Councillor Ciaran McRae

Committee Business Planner

The Committee noted the Committee Business Planner, which was presented by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance.

The Committee heard that the production of the revised Renewable Energy Developments Aberdeen Planning Guidance (APG) had been delayed pending the publication of new guidance from the Scottish Government on hydrogen consenting. The report on the revised guidance was therefore deferred until June 2025.