Hardie Planning Consultancy was successful in obtaining full planning consent for a new live work community in Aberdeenshire in 2009.  Aberdeenshire Council gave the green light for the demolition of a large disused piggery near Laurencekirk. The 'local eyesore' will be replaced by a highly innovative mixed-use development of twelve new houses and seven business units. The site, at Dowrieburn or Brigton, will be an exemplar for the rural 'live-work' model promoting quality lifestyles with a particular focus on sustainable and energy efficient building design. It will be the first of its type in Aberdeenshire.

The live work model is based on interpretation of national planning policies on rural development published by Scottish Government a few years ago. The model promotes rural businesses and homes in appropriate locations, and is part of this Government’s objectives for sustainable economic growth. It is also in line with the recently approved Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire Structure Plan.

Recent research suggests that there is significant local demand for housing in rural locations, which also enable occupiers to work in a business type environment without having to commute to work on a daily basis.  A great deal of thought went into the proposals over a period of three years with local community aspirations influencing the final scheme. Two public meetings were held in the area and views expressed by those attending were taken on board.

As well as new housing and business units, the development will also feature improved landscaping and tree planting to promote local biodiversity. Building design is 'cutting edge' with very high levels of energy efficiency. The properties will be predominately south and west facing, taking advantage of all the natural elements and views from the site. The proposed houses will be a mixture of contemporary and traditional designs - with natural stone, timber and glass with slated roofs - and will comprise a mixture of four and five bedroom homes with generous living spaces and slightly smaller three and four bedroom houses grouped round a courtyard - echoing the style of a steading-type development along Dowrieburn.

Fishponds Business in the Green Belt of North Lanarkshire

Hardie Planning was successful in obtaining full planning consent for the construction of three fishponds, construction of a boathouse, extension of road access, footpath provision and use of existing office and car park on land at Portcullis Estate near Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire.  The site covers an area of 5.3ha.  The major planning application involved a change of use of undeveloped Green Belt land.  The site was very sensitive and also contained a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. 

As the site is also a flood plain for the River Kelvin, SEPA had to be satisfied regarding land raising and water levels.  The site is also a buffer zone for the Antonine Wall (now a World Heritage Site) and Historic Consulted were consulted throughout to ensure the setting of the AW would not be affected.

Individual Houses in the Countryside

Hardie Planning has been successful in obtaining planning consent for the construction of individual detached houses in the following rural areas in the last two years:

Braidwood Farm, near Penicuik, Midlothian – Full planning consent (Planning Permission in Principle and Matters Specific to Conditions) was obtained for a new house, plus a micro-hydro scheme, for a site on the edge of an existing building group and bordering the foothills of the Pentland Hills Regional Park, an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), south of Edinburgh.

Crawick, near Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway – Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) was obtained, following a successful appeal, for three house plots adjacent to the Crawick Water.

Pyatshaw, near Lauder, Scottish Borders - Hardie Planning was successful in obtaining PPP for a plot for large eco-house and accompanying workshop / office for a live work lifestyle in the Scottish Borders near Lauder, in the building group known as Pyatshaw.  A Section 75 ties the workshop / office unit to the occupancy of the new house.

North Aldersyde, Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute – Both Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) followed by Matters Specific to Conditions (MSC) were obtained for a new house and access on the edge of the settlement of Tighnabruaich overlooking the Kyles of Bute.  This included preparation of a design statement as the site is within the Kyles of Bute National Scenic Area.  The kit house known as the ‘orange house’ and is shown in the final image in the following appendix of the design statement.  The house is for a local key worker and his family.

To discuss any of these projects in more detail, contact tom@hardieplanning.co.uk