The Banff and Buchan Area Committee met to discuss a range of local issues, including planning applications, housing investment, and community funding. The committee agreed to grant planning permission for a dwellinghouse in Lonmay, but deferred decisions on two other planning applications pending site visits. Councillors also discussed and commented on the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031, and allocated funding from the Banff & Buchan Coastal Communities Fund.

• Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031
• Banff and Buchan Area Committee Budget 2025/2026: Second Tranche
• Planning Decisions
• Annual Scrutiny and Improvement Report
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Performance Report
• Statement of Outstanding Business

Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031

The committee reviewed and commented on the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2026-2031, a document that sets out the investment priorities for affordable housing over a five-year period. The plan aims to deliver the outcomes set out in the Local Housing Strategy (LHS) and guides the application of Scottish Government funding.

The SHIP could potentially deliver 2,291 new affordable homes, with around 617 suitable for particular needs¹ (27%) of which 232 will be fully wheelchair accessible (10%). Around 1,793 units will be for social rent (78%) with the remainder as either mid-market rent or some form of affordable home ownership. Of the 2,291 units around 326 units will be delivered on either town centre and or brownfield sites. Around 32% of social rent properties will be 1-bed properties and around 42% will be 3+ bedroom properties. Of these 2,291 homes, 93 in total are proposed for Banff and Buchan; 90 (97%) for social rent with around 20 (22%) potentially suitable for particular needs of which 16 (17%) fully wheelchair accessible and 3 for low cost shared equity.

The report noted challenges within the construction sector, including the rising costs of borrowing and construction projects, skills and labour shortages, and the impact of these issues on the delivery and viability of affordable housing developments.

Banff and Buchan Area Committee Budget 2025/2026: Second Tranche

The committee considered 10 applications for funding from the Area Initiatives Fund, with a total of £18,397.91 available for disbursement. The applications, if approved in full, would have required funding of £30,900.95, leaving a shortfall of £12,503.04. The applications were assessed against agreed criteria, including alignment with council priorities and the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes.

The committee agreed to prioritise the further review of these applications should more funding become available.

Planning Decisions

The committee made the following decisions on planning applications:

• APP/2024/0882 - The Market Arms, 5 High Shore, Banff: This application for the erection of gates was deferred for a site visit to assess access. Councillor John Cox had declared an interest in the item and left the meeting during the discussion.
• APP/2025/0394 - Hamewith Site opposite Idlewilde, Memsie, Fraserburgh: This application for demolition of a cottage and outbuildings and erection of a dwellinghouse, 2 domestic garages and garden store (part retrospective) was deferred for a site visit to consider the site of the existing garages, establish where the proposed house will be built and the impact of its closeness to the road. Councillors James Adams and Doreen Mair requested that the application be referred to the committee.
• APP/2025/0460 - Site Adjacent to Spillarsford, Lonmay, Fraserburgh: Full planning permission for the erection of a dwellinghouse was granted, subject to conditions. The conditions included that: off-street parking for three cars must be provided; a scheme of hard and soft landscaping works must be submitted; an energy statement applicable to that dwellinghouse has been submitted. The planning authority considered that the application was for a development that is not in accordance with the National Planning Framework 4² and Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2023³. However, the application is supported as the planning history is taken into consideration, specifically the removal of the steading building to satisfy conditions placed on the applications at Plots 2 & 3 meant that Plot 1 is considered naturalised. The development is considered an appropriate departure as if the steading had remained this development would be considered a brownfield development which is acceptable in the countryside. The proposed development is also appropriately sited and designed and will not have any impact on the neighbouring properties. Taking all of this into consideration, it can be considered that this proposal is an acceptable departure from ALDP 2023 Policy R2 Development Proposals Elsewhere in the Countryside and NPF4 Policy 17 Rural homes.

Banff & Buchan Coastal Communities Fund (Ocean Winds): Second Tranche

The committee considered three applications for funding from the Banff & Buchan Coastal Communities Fund 2024/25. Councillor Cox declared an interest in the item and left the meeting during the discussion.

The committee agreed to a pro rata solution for the three applications, making the following awards:

• Banff and Macduff Community Council (£914)
• Banff Castle Community Association (£1,561)
• INVERSPORT (£3,922)

The committee noted that every group has the responsibility for ensuring all relevant planning permissions, and other permissions are in place.

Annual Scrutiny and Improvement Report

The committee considered the Annual Scrutiny and Improvement Report, which included highlights of key scrutiny activity undertaken by the committee over the past year and outlined areas for inclusion in the scrutiny programme for the coming year.

The committee agreed to note and commend the projects undertaken by community groups in projects across Banff & Buchan supported by Area Initiatives Funding.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Performance Report

The committee considered the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SF&RS) Performance Report for Q1 1st April to 30th June 2025. Chris Henderson, Station Commander for Banff & Buchan, presented an update to the committee.

The committee agreed to:

1. note the attached performance report at Appendix 1 of the report relating to the period 1 April to 30 June 2025,
2. note any local operational matters arising together with key resource issues, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report, and
3. request that data of incidents on Road A947 be included within Future SF&RS Performance Reports to Area Committee.

Statement of Outstanding Business

The committee reviewed the statement of outstanding business as of 9 September 2025. The Area Manager provided a verbal update on specific items and responded to queries raised.

The committee agreed to:

• note the items of outstanding business of 19 August 2025;
• retain Item 2;
• request relating to Item 5 an informal session to which Police Scotland is invited, prior to the Service report to Area Committee.