The scheme was approved by Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine Area Committee at its meeting on Tuesday, in line with planners’ recommendations. 

The two-storey development seeks to create a ‘civic hub’ for the town, and forms part of the wider masterplan for the area.

The office section of the building is to feature a public entrance to the south, and would feature a ceremony room and registrar’s office, along with a ‘civic area’ in front of the building.

The internal layout of the building has been designed to be easy to navigate for people of all physical abilities, and will feature a ‘Changing Places’ toilet facility that can be accessed from outside.

There will be a separate entrance to the east for the library and family resource centre, which will feature an outdoor play area.

A report before councillors stated: “The development seeks to create a ‘civic hub’, whereby it would be closely related to the town centre, and within the proximity of other public sector uses such as the police station and fire station.

“Furthermore, in concentrating the number of council uses into one location near to the centre of Ellon, it would seek to provide an economic benefit to local businesses by bringing people to the area.”

A car park for 44 vehicles would sit to the west of the site, accessed from Union Street, with additional capacity to be accommodated within nearby car parks. Electric vehicle charging points will be provided and cycle lockers and stands will also be installed on the site, while indicative plans for a pedestrian crossing and traffic calming measures including a ‘rumble strip’ have also been detailed. 

A landscaping scheme will include planting to support pollinating insects. The construction of the building will also include ‘swift bricks’ and ‘bat bricks’ to allow for roosting.

The building aims to achieve ‘net zero’ operation standards and will feature a number of carbon reduction measures. The report before councillors noted the development would free up retail and office space in Ellon town centre as council services move to the new office. 

A key area of focus has been the protection of a walnut tree thought to be around 130 years old, which sits on the eastern edge of the site. Protecting the tree means that the footway on Bridge Street will be narrower at that point than the recommended 2m, leading to an objection from the council’s roads service.

The existing boundary wall by the tree is to be reduced in height, and additional traffic calming measures have been proposed on Union Street.

The application is a departure from the Local Development Plan and the proposals drew two objections, raising concerns over overshadowing, loss of light and privacy, parking provision and the layout and appearance of the development.

The committee heard from a nearby resident who, although supportive of the scheme in general, called for the location of the building to be adjusted to reduce the overshadowing of nearby homes and loss of privacy.

During the discussion, councillors asked a number of questions of the planning service regarding the walnut tree and footpath widths, the possibility of ‘pivoting’ the building, and matters relating to energy efficiency and the ‘green’ credentials of the project. 

The committee went on to approve the planning application without alteration, subject to various conditions, including connection of the development to the public water supply and public sewer.

Conditions also include agreeing the location of swift and bat bricks, agreement of lighting arrangements for the car park, and the development of an energy statement and construction traffic management plan.

The creation of a Changing Places toilet, a tree protection plan, and details of landscaping have also been conditioned, and the committee also asked for a flagpole to be incorporated into the plans.