Planning

Oakbank Business Park

Brief

Keppie Planning and Development, in conjunction with Keppie architectural and landscape teams, was appointed in 2008 to provide planning services for the development of a high quality office business park, at the site of the former Oakbank School in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen City Council had created a design brief for the site in 1999 with a low-rise residential development being identified as the most suitable option. Given the Client's brief for a business park, Keppie was required to bring forward proposals that addressed the significant site constraints and justified the departure from the Council's original design brief.

Response

Keppie Planning and Development produced a comprehensive planning appraisal of the site including a review of all relevant Development Plans and other associated economic development policies, in order to provide a sound basis from which to advance proposals. To accompany the high quality architectural and landscape design solutions produced by Keppie, comprehensive supporting justification for the proposals was provided.

Particular aspects, that required planning justification, included the demolition of a listed building; the relationship of the business park to neighbouring residential properties; an existing landscape and ecology network and increased traffic and transport within the surrounding area.  Applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent were submitted in April 2009 with a range of supporting information including Supporting Planning Statement, Historic Asset Appraisal, Design Statement, Landscape Statement, Tree Survey, Transport Assessment, Drainage Impact Assessment and Bat Survey.

Outcome

Following discussions with Aberdeen City Council and associated consultees, minor amendments to the scheme were made throughout the process and Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent are anticipated in early 2010.

Team