Decision Maker: Buchan Area Committee

Outcome: Refer

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: September 16, 2025

Purpose: National Application

Content: Agreed (1) to hear request to speak, and (2) that the application be referred to the Infrastructure Services Committee for determination having confirmed their support for the application by agreeing that authority to GRANT be delegated to the Head of Planning and Economy subject to (a) the conditions outlined in the report, and (b) the following points being considered by ISC in their determination of  the application (i) whilst acknowledging that planning policy dictates that each application must be considered on its own merits, there is considerable concern about the cumulative impact and industrialisation that the various applications are having on the Buchan area; (ii) that consideration be given as to whether the proposed site is the right scale, size and place for this development; and (iii) that there is a need for more regular and improved communication with the communities impacted by this proposal Further agreed to make following comments to ISC in relation to the process and procedure for dealing with such planning applications (1) having been advised, at the Pre-Determination Hearing, that any requests for a site visit should be undertaken by the Committee determining the application, to highlight that it would have been helpful for the local Members sitting on their respective Area Committees to have undertaken a site visit in advance of being asked to submit their views, and (2) to acknowledge how helpful it is that a site visit is to be arranged in advance of ISC being asked to determine the application, and to note that some Members, who also sit on ISC, opted to reserve making comment until they have been on the site visit