Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

Please refer to paperwork issued in agenda packs for Local Review Body held on 15 January 2026 and 13 March 2026.

The Chair, Councillor Blair, welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He explained that no person present would be entitled to speak other than the Members of the Local Review Body (LRB) and Mr Jackson, who would provide procedural advice if required.

He advised that at the previous meeting, which took place on 13 March 2026 it was agreed to continue consideration of the Notice of Review Request to allow Members an opportunity to seek advice on the terms of a competent motion.  Councillor Blair confirmed that he had done so and put forward the following motion:- 

This application adapts a vacant town-centre building for use as a pharmacy,

improving accessibility and security in line with NHS requirements and the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. 

The proposal is small scale and has been deemed unacceptable due to its location, design and associated materially detrimental visual effect on the town centre, conservation area and the settings of a number of nearby listed buildings.

The site visit and the further information provided by the Applicants architect put into perspective for me the issues around disabled access and the safety and security of the increased variety of drugs kept on a pharmacist’s premises.

I also saw several different modernised shopfronts at this location and have noted the existence of nearby properties that have external shutters. I also note that there have been no local objections to the proposed development and it is not a listed building, which all together reinforced to me that this development could be approved.

The proposed changes are modest, sympathetic, and essential for delivering a frontline health service in one of Scotland’s most deprived areas and I am of the view that the development can be considered to be sufficiently in keeping with the character and appearance of the existing building fabric and its immediate surroundings in a way that it does not have a materially detrimental visual effect on the town centre, the conservation area and the setting of the nearby listed buildings.

I therefore move that on that basis the application be approved as a minor departure from the policies referred to by the planners, in the reasons for refusal, in the report of handling on page 35 of the agenda pack for the meeting of the LRB on 15 January 2026, subject to the conditions and reasons detailed at page 3 of the agenda pack for the meeting of the LRB on 13 March 2026.

Having established that the motion was competent and with no one being otherwise minded, this became the decision of the LRB.

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Local Review Body unanimously agreed that the application be approved as a minor departure from NPF4 Policies 7c) d) and 14; and  ABC LDP2 Policies 04, 05, 08, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17 subject to the following conditions and reasons:-

1.    The development shall be implemented in accordance with the details specified on the application form dated 16/08/11 and the approved drawing reference numbers:

Plan 1 of 4 (Location Plan)

Plan 2 of 4 (Site Plans)

Plan 3 of 4 (Existing/Proposed Floor Plans)

Plan 4 of 4 (Existing/Proposed Elevations)

unless the prior written approval of the planning authority is obtained for other materials/finishes/for an amendment to the approved details under Section 64 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended).

Reason: For the purpose of clarity, to ensure that the development is implemented in accordance with the approved details.

2.    The development to which this permission relates must be begun not later than three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: In accordance with Section 58 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

(Reference:  Notice of Review Request, Comments from Interested Parties; Further written information from Planning Officer, Comments from the Applicant and Motion, submitted)