The Formartine Area Committee met to discuss a range of issues, including planning applications, traffic management, and housing investment. The committee was scheduled to consider a new Strategic Housing Investment Plan, as well as several planning applications for developments in the area. Councillors were also expected to discuss a proposal to introduce double yellow lines on a section of road in Ellon.

Here's a more detailed look at the topics on the agenda:

Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031

The committee was scheduled to discuss the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031, which sets out the priorities for affordable housing investment in the area over the next five years.

The plan sets out how the council intends to meet the housing needs of the local population, and includes:

• Key investment priorities for affordable housing
• How these priorities will be delivered
• The resources required
• Involvement of key partners

The report noted that the plan could potentially deliver 2291 new affordable homes, with around 617 suitable for particular needs (27%) of which 232 will be fully wheelchair accessible (10%). Around 1793 units will be for social rent (78%) with the remainder as either mid- market rent or some form of affordable home ownership. Of the 2291 units around 326 units will be delivered on either town centre and or brownfield sites. In terms of addressing the pressure points of 1 bed properties and larger family size properties of 3+ bedrooms, around 32% of social rent properties will be 1 bed properties and around 42% will be 3+ bedroom properties. Of these 2291 homes, 403 in total are proposed for Formartine; 337 (84%) for social rent with around 96 (24%) potentially suitable for particular needs of which 33 (8%) fully wheelchair accessible and 14 for mid market rent and 52 for low cost shared equity.

The report also highlighted a number of challenges facing the construction sector, including rising costs and skills shortages.

The report noted that a high proportion – around 76% - of current and future affordable housing development is or will be as a consequence of contributions from the private development industry to affordable housing through the Local Development Plan's Affordable Housing Policy. The policy states that all new housing development of four or more homes must include 25% of the serviced plots for affordable housing .

Planning Applications

The committee was scheduled to consider several planning applications, including:

• Site adjacent to 16 Tree Road, Tarves: A full planning permission application for the erection of a dwelling house. The application was recommended for refusal, but Councillors Jenny Nicol and Paul Johnston requested that the application be referred to the Area Committee for further discussion of policy relating to development in the countryside. The application site is located outwith the settlement boundary for Tarves, as defined in the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2023¹. The applicant stated that the house would be associated with the retirement succession of Ordhill Farm, however planning officers noted that the applicant would be giving up their tenancy to allow Haddo Estate to re-let or sell the holding to another, and there was no near relative succession taking place. > Planning Advice PA2023-11 'Development in the Countryside: Policies R1 and R2 including Organic Growth of Settlements' stipulates that the provision under Policy R2 will only apply if the beneficiary of the succession meets the definitions of a successor which is a 'near relative' as defined by the agricultural holdings Acts applicable to Scotland (currently Agricultural Holdings Act 1991) and that successor is taking over the running of the farm enterprise.
• Land at Beauty Hill House, Newmachar: A full planning permission application for change of use of agricultural land, erection of a building for use as a pet grooming salon, and formation of vehicular access. The application was recommended for refusal, but Councillor Andrew Hassan requested that the application be referred to the Area Committee for further scrutiny against the Local Development Plan 2023 Policy PR1.5 and National Planning Framework 4 Policy 29 (Rural Development). The application site is situated approximately 2.2km north of Kingseat and 2km northeast of Newmachar, in the countryside. The site is located on prime agricultural land and access taken through a young woodland. There is an existing core path, the Formartine and Buchan Way, which lies approximately 30 metres to the east of the site. The proposed pre-fabricated structure would measure 12.2 by 2.4 metres, with timber wall cladding, grey uPVC windows and doors, and a grey sheet metal flat roof.
• Land at Middleton of Blackford, Rothienorman: A full planning permission application for installation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with an installed capacity of 49.9MW and associated infrastructure. The application site is approximately 2.7 hectare in total, however the developed area equates to around 1.4 hectares. The site is located 2.5km west of Rothienorman. The application site comprises a rectangular area of agricultural land which is actively managed and forms part of a wider field. The land is relatively flat. The site is open to the field to the north and east. The southern boundary is formed by a mature woodland. The substation lies to the immediate west, with the mature trees along the mutual boundary. The nearest residential properties are 'Westfield Croft', approximately 250m to the north, and 'Kininvie' approximately 480m to the south. The property 'Middlefield Grange' is approximately 70m to the east of the proposed access road. The application comprises of the following:
  • 32 of battery containers units
  • 16 Power Conversion System (PCS)
  • Generator
  • Welfare unit
  • Switchgear building
  • A new access track with a passing bay, connecting the unnamed road to the BESS site, with all construction traffic approaching from the west, as specified in the Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP).
  • Hard-surfaced site access and foundation slabs for units, with uncompacted gravel within the compound and asphalt surfacing for at least the first 10 metres from the public highway.
  • Landscaping measures, including the retention of all existing trees, the planting of native tree belts, woodland blocks, and species-rich grass verges along the access road.
  • An infiltration drainage system, including an infiltration basin to the north of the landscaping
  • An underground cable connection to the adjacent substation, managed by Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD)
  • Industrial-style green or close-boarded timber security fencing and acoustic screening, ranging from 2.4m to 3m in height around the site
  • CCTV pole measuring 3m high.

B9005, Station Road, Ellon – Application of Double Yellow Lines

The committee was scheduled to be advised of an application for permanent double yellow lines for no parking on Station Road, Ellon. The report noted that Aberdeenshire Council's Public Transportation Team made the decision for a bus stop be constructed in Station Road, Ellon at the request of the bus company due to there being no access to the buses from the pavement. A road safety audit recommended the installation of the double yellow lines. The report also noted that the double yellow lines prohibit parking outside of a café/child play zone, but that on-street parking is available on nearby streets.

The committee was to be asked to approve the commencement of the statutory procedures for the making of "The Aberdeenshire Council (Station Road, Ellon) (Traffic Management) Order 2025.