The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Former taverna may be put to ‘ecclesiastic’ use
Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of proposals lodged in the north-east.
A once-beloved city restaurant could soon be granted a new lease of life.
Christos Greek Taverna became a Granite City institution after it opened on John Street in 1991.
But last summer, its “heartbroken” manager announced its closure due to the brutal impact of Covid.
Now, the building’s owners, Karis Property Company Ltd, want to make it a part of the Credo Centre church and social work base. The building was formerly called St George’s in the West and dates back to 1877. The Credo charity runs a gift shop, cafe, and meeting and counselling rooms.
The new plans would see the former eatery “reverted to ecclesiastic use” as a church hall.
A Ballater couple are applying for permission to build a wildlife pond in their back garden.
Marcelle and Benno Touw, originally from Holland, live at Greystones on Abergeldie Road.
The proposed pond would have a 1.2m shallow end, a slope in the middle and a 2m deep end.
Proposals for two new houses on the edge of Muir of Fowlis, near Alford, have been endorsed despite neighbours’ objections.
The two-bedroom homes will be put up to the northwest of the hamlet, on a large patch of scrubland.
A Mr and Mrs Peachey weren’t keen. The couple say they “specifically” bought the house next door “due to the secluded location and privacy of not having properties looking into our back garden”.
They add: “We have a baby and we feel any building work right outside our home would be disruptive and pose a risk to her health due to the dust etc associated with building work.”
But Aberdeenshire Council officers approved the plans, lodged by Kevin MacFarlane from Torphins.
Earlier this month NatWest said it was closing its only Aberdeen branch in January. The bank has lodged plans to rip out the ATMs and night safe at the Union Street branch.
Aberdeen Inspired has lodged papers for a “ceiling of light” over Bon Accord Terrace, at the junction with Langstane Place And Justice Mill Lane.
Mohammed Kioum is retroactively applying for permission for an illuminated sign outside a yet-to-open Aberdeen take-away.
Mr Kioum has put up the board for the Highland Coo Steak Grill at 18 Holburn Street. Papers sent to the council explain that the businessman has been “given nice and helpful advice” about the need to have applied for consent.
If permission is refused, he will have to take it down.
Further along Holburn Street, RGU bosses want to move the bin store at the university’s Crathie Student Village.
They say the present location, just off Crathie Terrace, makes it a risk for “wilful fire-raising” so instead want to place it further from the entrance.
Fierce Beer’s plans for a new bar at its Kirkhill industrial estate base in Dyce have been approved.
However, the firm has had cause to fear it may be impacted by cuts to buses.
First plans to slash the X27 service, which takes passengers between the city centre and Dyce, the Kirkhill industrial estate and the airport.
Managing director Dave Grant said: “You could be wanting to head out to our taproom, and if it’s really easy to access it, you might come out. But if it’s in any way difficult, you’re probably not going to make the journey.”
Kincardine Estate is seeking permission to keep a temporary unit next to the old Borrowstone Farmhouse in place for an extra year to help a local food firm thrive.
Husband and wife Rupert Holden and Louisa Bradford make preserves, biscuits and snacks that are sold by local retailers and at farmers markets across Aberdeenshire.
Estate bosses are now asking to extend permission granted last year for an extra 12 months. They say this will give the business time to find a “more permanent structure”.
Aberdonians will be familiar with a viral video clip showing a seagull strolling into a Union Street Co-op and leaving with a sandwich in its beak.
Now, new plans to upgrade 28 flats above the supermarket (featured in last week’s Planning Ahead) could mean the end of the feathered fiend’s daring raids.
As part of a newlyapproved package of works, huge nets will cover the entire roof of the block along from Aberdeen Music Hall.
The Rob Roy Inn at Kinneff dates from the early 19th century, but has become “uninhabitable” since closing more than 25 years ago.
In 2019 a proposal to turn the former pub into two homes was approved.
Now new plans have been lodged for housing at the C-listed building.
Mr E. Gordon is seeking permission to turn the adjoining site of a former coaching stable into another home.
Bennett Architectural Design say the stables date back to the late 19th Century, and appear to have latterly been used as a “storage and workshop” space for the Rob Roy Inn.