The Local Review Body of Aberdeenshire Council met on Friday 27 March 2026, upholding a review against the refusal of planning permission for kennels and an office building near Huntly, and deferring a decision on a proposed storage and material recycling yard near Alford due to concerns over noise and air quality.

Erection of Kennels and Office Building near Huntly

The committee unanimously decided to uphold the notice of review for the proposed erection of kennels and an office building at Glenhead of Coachford, Cairnie, Huntly¹. This decision reversed the appointed officer's refusal of full planning permission. The review body was satisfied that the applicant had demonstrated there was no other suitable alternative site available for the development, aligning with Policy R2 of the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan (LDP) and Policy 29 of the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4)². They also concluded that the proposed compensatory planting would adequately address the loss of woodland, in compliance with Policy PR1 of the LDP and Policy 6 of NPF4³. The decision was subject to appropriate conditions being attached to the approval, relating to compensatory planting, water safety management, and private water treatment systems.

Change of Use of Land to Form Storage and Material Recycling Yard near Alford

The committee decided to defer the decision on the notice of review against the refusal of full planning permission for a change of use of land to form a storage and material recycling yard at Land to East of Broomiebank, Alford⁴. This deferral is to allow for further procedure and the seeking of additional information, particularly concerning waste management facility policies and further assessments of dust and noise impacts. Councillors expressed concerns that the submitted information, especially regarding noise and air quality, was not sufficiently robust to make a determination. The committee agreed to seek further views from all statutory consultees, including the planning service, and potentially SEPA⁵, on the implications of treating the site as a waste management facility. Additionally, further information regarding the dust and noise assessments will be requested.