Planning Convenor's Report, August 2010

  1.00 PLANNING RELATED MATTERS include the following:

1.01 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Applications received between 14^th June and 2^nd Aug include the undernoted that are of interest to us. Those highlighted are for discussion at the meeting.

10/02069/FUL Erect two storey extension to side with single storey to front and rear at 55 Currievale Park Currie EH14 5TL Converts a 2 bed to a four bed house by extending it to almost the full width of the grounds. Does not affect the neighbours to any great extent. Drawings to not detail construction materials, but as its a continuation of the existing walls and roof the assumption would be that its the same material. So is acceptable.

10/02112/LBC Form new opening in rear elevation and carry out internal Alterations at 375 Lanark Road West Edinburgh EH14 5RS This is to form a large, glased double door in the side of a large stone built house, in connection with internal alterations including a new kitchen and wash room. Listed building. Looks a reasonable alteration to make.

10/01862/FUL Erection of a front porch at 22 Forth View Crescent Edinburgh EH14 5QZ - non contentious.

10/01992/FUL Proposed erection of two storey extension to rear of property at 126 Lanark Road West Edinburgh EH14 5NY the proposed extension is a substantial addition to the rear of the house. It makes no attempt to continue the style of the house but looks like an enormous wooden box:

While there is evidently room for the addition and it gives the house a much larger kitchen and extra bedroom, the style doesnt blend in with the existing house and the extensive use of timber plywood is not compatible with the existing house nor of the same quality. Have written to the planning dept objecting on the grounds of its appearance.

10/01795/FUL To erect a heated conservatory at 64 Thomson Road Currie EH14 5HW. Typical UPVC conservatory, no obvious impact on neighbours. Non controversial.

10/01835/FUL Erection of two storey extension at 9 Easter Currie Crescent Currie EH14 5LH. Two storey addition to (small) existing house. Does not intrude and would improve existing dwelling. No objection.

10/01285/FUL Proposed 2 storey side extension, rear single storey extension, front porch and attic conversion, external parking area to front of property with dropped kerb access at 109 Muir Wood Road Currie EH14 5HE. This extends the property considerably to the side, and also slightly front and rear. As it has substantial surrounding grounds and the impact on the neighbouring property is minimal, it looks acceptable. However, its been pointed out that there is an additional car parking space with access to the road very near a junction. I've written to CEC objecting to this as being unsafe (acknowledgement received). Granted. The vehicular access has been removed. Ours was the only letter of representation.

1.02 Applications Decided/Concluded:

10/01355/FUL To erect a UPVC conservatory onto rear of existing house. At 49 Riccarton Avenue Currie EH14 5PG. Small, single story extention, plenty of surrounding grounds with no obvious impact on neighbours. Non controversial. Granted.

10/01388/FUL Take down existing timber garage and replace with Blockwork garage at 59 Dolphin Road Currie EH14 5RY. The garage is stand alone, in a rear garden, with access past the side of the owners house. Its almost up against the boundary with the neighbours garden.The new garage is much larger than the existing. The existing is about 4820L x 2760W x 3500H. Proposed is 7000L x 4200W x 3500H. Thats too large for a single garage. A good sized 4x4 car would be 5000L x 2200W x 2200H. Have written to the planning dept (by email) commenting that the proposed garage appears too long and too wide for the back garden, and its length would have a detrimental impact on the neighbours (no 36) back garden. Granted "the garage does not cover more than one third of the rear garden and a generous amount of amenity space will be maintained....the garage will not have an adverse impact on the amount of daylight reaching the rear windows of the adjacent dwelling house." Ours was the only letter of objection.

10/01834/FUL Construct new porch and attic conversion including dormer window. at 97 Curriehill Road Currie EH14 5PS Small dormer and porch. Non controversial. Granted.

10/01486/FUL 16 Lanark Road West Edinburgh EH14 5ET This development is to squash a single story house into the grounds of an existing dwelling and as such is not an attractive proposition except to those who stand to gain financially. It is certainly to the detriment of the existing dwelling. Although in the green belt, it fills a gap between the existing dwelling, Muirwood road and futher dwellings. It is smaller than the existing dwelling, does not intrude or cause any other obvious problems, so no grounds for objection. Granted.

10/01461/FUL Attic conversion with dormers to front and rear including provision of entrance porch at 135 Forth View Crescent Edinburgh EH14 5QP. This is a large alteration to the roof and may well be refused by CEC as previous similar applications: "the proposed front dormer will dominate the roof to an unacceptable degree and will harm the character of the house and the established character of the surrounding area". I think we should leave it to CEC. - granted.

10/01339/FUL Erection of residential accommodation for Students with ancillary works at Land 80 Metres Southwest Of Lord Home Hall Lord Home Road Edinburgh (Heriot Watt Riccarton Campus). See proposal of application notice 10/00232/PAN. Another accommodation block next to an existing block on the main campus. The architects held a public consultation meeting in February. Comments were positive. The new accommodation replaces old accommodation elsewhere on the site — its not clear what will happen to the old accommodation. No comments from CCC - Granted

10/01619/FUL To erect a UPVC conservatory onto rear of existing house at 87 Curriehill Road Currie EH14 5PS In proportion, enough room, does not overlook neighbours. Non controversial. Granted

1.03 Applications On going:

09/02571/FUL — Installation of agricultural slurry holding tank to include upgrading of existing access track — green belt — Pending. Determination due 23^rd Jan Probably uncontroversial but may have implications for the Kaimes AD plant if it results in a reduction of the waste going to Kaimes. CEC have asked for a 'design statement' with a deadline of 12^th August, or application may be refused. There has been no recorded movement on this planning application since February.

09/02589/FUL - Operational inter-modal railway station and interchange facility to tram stop, development will comprise train station building; platforms; passenger shelters; tram stop building; lifts, escalators, and step accesses; pedestrian subway and surrounding pedestrian footpath network; vehicular access and parking. Letter sent requesting response to apparent: lack of bus connections; parking; traffic management; insufficient traffic assessment; insufficient community consultation; insufficient site assessment. Our letter not considered separately but summarised by case officer in terms not to cause concern to planners. Target determination date: 8^th Feb 2010. Following a determination hearing on 1^st April at which CCC was represented by Archie Clark, a report recomends that the the application be granted. Site works now well advanced. Granted. Construction well under way.

09/00563/FUL — Amendment to Planning Permission 01/04622/FUL to allow extension of time period at 1 Kinleith Mill Industrial Estate by DTZ.. - Application returned 11^th Nov 2009 because the application to extend planning permission was submitted a day after planning permission expired (pp expired on 11^th March 09. Application for extension received on 12^th March 2009). This means the developer will have to reapply in due course. CEC will probably ask for a new flood risk assessment as criteria have changed. Other assessments appear substantially the same, at present, meaning that a similar planning application is likely to be granted. Correspondence (and fee return) was addressed to DTZ, who were appointed to sell the site on behalf of the Administrator 'with planning permission'. There has been no correspondence on the planning website since the letter from CEC to the applicant returning the application for an extension of planning permission as being submitted one day too late, in November 09. The longer this goes on, the less likely it is that this planning application will be resurrected. A landslip at the site entrance caused by a burst pipe has involved some activity by earth moving machinery. Otherwise all quiet. No travellers on site although the entrance can be easily accessed.

08/04168/FUL - Proposed anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting facility (Kaimes Eco Centre) with associated access, landscaping and ancillary development. The Target Determination Date has expired. No new date as at 5^th Feb 2010. Last date for comments was 9^th Jan 2009. No new documents on planning portal since 31^st Aug 2009. No further developments this month.

09/00475/FUL — Erection of 6 executive dwellings at 482, 484 Lanark Road West (Balerno). No date available for a decision at 5^th Mar 2010. Last date for comments was 1^st Jan 2010. A meeting of the planning committee recomends the application be granted. No correspondance since 28^th April 2010.

09/03162/PSC Construction of a renewable energy test site to be used for research work at Land 173 Metres Southeast Of Lord Home Hall Lord Home Road Edinburgh. No details on CEC's website. Green belt. Have received details from John Monaghan. Involves nine portable wind turbines and two 1KW photovoltaic array, initially. There seems some doubt as to whether this will go ahead as a new accommodation block is to be built on or near the site. Still no details on CEC's website. Will remove from report.

10/00218/FUL and 10/00430/LBC Form vacant property into private dwelling at 204 Lanark Road West Edinburgh EH14 5NX. This is to convert an existing workshop to a house by slightly enlarging to the rear and adding a second storey. This will not change its size or appearance greatly as the 2nd story is built into the (slightly raised) roof and is in proportion with the neighbouring building. However this building is of some age and may well have historical significance, as it was the smithy in Victorian times and most likely dates from well before then. It shares a wall with an electrical substation which might give the occupants cause for concern (loud humming noise, possible electrical interference, industrial neighbours) but is within the planning rules so far as I know — for CEC planning dept to determine. No parking arrangements detailed, but there is a yard (ownership unknown) to the rear. Its not clear whether Scottish Power are aware of this planning application. I suspect their 'neighbour notification' was posted to the substation. I have written to the planning department with these objections. I have also written to Currie Historical Society for their views. Scottish power wrote back thanking us for bringing it to their attention. They have no objection in principle so long as nothing goes through the adjoining wall. Currie Historical Society have no strong views, but have invited me to have a look through their archives at Herriot Watt. There is a response from CEC Archeology which requires 'a programme of archaeological work' but raises no objection to the planning application as the scheme as a whole will see the overall retention of the rather neglected structure. No new documents on planning portal since 12^th March 2010.

2.00 KINLEITH MILL:

2.02 Site appears to be secure. Note that the Temporary Road Restriction and Traffic Regulation Order 2008-Temp/08/02 that prevented any person from driving "any vehicle on the Kinleith Industrial Estate Access Road from Blinkbonny Road" expires on 14^th October 2009 (ref. The Scotsman of 10^th April 2008.) I recommend that CEC review the access arrangements with CCC and C-Mist with a view to reopening the east access to allow fishermen, pedestrians and horse riders access to the Water of Leith Walkway in the near future. Have received an interim reply from Bob Mcallister: "I am awaiting a response re closure of path from the area engineer, on receipt I will forward".

3. 00 ASSOCIATED MATTERS:

3.01 Regarding Kirkgate - Currie: Proposed 24 Hour Waiting Restrictions — Note that the old station yard is owned by City Development Department who propose to include a section of land for car parking for the Baptist Church when their lease comes up for renewal. As CEC has stated that this land "is being considered for development in the long term" it may be lost to car parking. Letter sent to City Development, CEC, seeking clarification. Received email from Cllr Ron Cairns's assistant. He has made enquiries into this issue via Planning and is currently awaiting a response, which will be relayed upon receipt.

3.03 Received letter from Zero waste council project (jointly set up by Edinburgh and Midlothian councils, of intention to seek planning permission for a recycling or 'waste treatment facility' at Millerhill. Too far away from Currie to be of planning interest, but will keep tabs on the application out of general interest. Have asked to be kept informed. This might have implications for the viability of any plant proposed at Kaimes.

3.04 Development of Curriehill School buildings 210 West Lanark Road. Still 'for sale'. There is a rumour that CEC will demolish the building so as to reduce their liability.