Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 20 May 2025
Back to Planning and Climate Change Policy Board — 20 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Planning and Climate Change Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 20 May 2025 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Chris Gilmour, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Bruce MacFarlane, Councillor Kenny MacLaren, Councillor Jamie McGuire, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor John McNaughtan, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor John Shaw, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Paterson, Convener, presided. In Attendance A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development, D Love, Chief Planning Officer, A Williamson, Strategy & Place Manager, R Lee, Development Standards Manager, J Weir, Senior Planning Officer and A McKenzie, J McCafferty and C Murray, all Planners (all Chief Executive’s); G Hannah, Head of Climate, Public Protection & Roads and J Robertson, Sustainability Manager (both Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); and V Howie, Finance Business Partner, R Graham, Senior Solicitor (Litigation & Regulatory Services), R Devine, Senior Committee Services Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site.
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Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Update on Renfrewshire’s Climate Change Action There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to progress made in Renfrewshire in terms of activities directed at achieving the commitment to working towards Net Zero by 2030. The report outlined the strategic direction in Renfrewshire and highlighted the importance of working together across the Council and beyond to ensure projects, programmes and approaches complemented each other; optimised expertise and experience; and maximised resources while closely aligning with the Council and Community Plans and national and local policies and strategies. DECIDED: (a) That it be noted that the report provided a summary of the climate action undertaken and progress to date; and (b) That the priority areas and specific activity to be taken forward to support Renfrewshire’s strategic climate objectives be noted. 2 Public Bodies Climate Change Duties: Proposed Updated Draft Guidance There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the public consultation regarding the proposed updated draft statutory guidance on the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties, which focused on how public bodies should approach putting climate change duties into practice, including the importance of leadership and governance. The Duties placed a legal requirement on public bodies to set target dates for emission reductions and report on how spending and resources would contribute to these targets and contribute to Scotland’s Climate Change Adaptation Programme. DECIDED: (a) That it be noted that the report provided a summary of the draft statutory guidance for Public Bodies Climate Change Duties; (b) That the alignment with Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero and the areas already being strengthened ahead of any proposed changes in line with the draft statutory guidance be noted; and (c) That the Council’s proposed position of being broadly supportive in response to the draft statutory guidance consultation be noted.
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3 Planning Applications There were submitted reports by the Chief Planning Officer relative to the following applications for planning permission that required to be determined by the Board. (a) 24/0800/PP - Demolition of rear hall, erection of two storey rear extension, conversion of building to form three residential units and associated alterations at 19 Lawn Street, Paisley PA1 1HD by the Kirk Session of Paisley Abbey J McCafferty, Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal and the associated listed building consent application. In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the planning application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. (b) 24/0801/LB - Demolition of rear hall, erection of rear extension and conversion of front building to form residential units and associated external alterations at 19 Lawn Street, Paisley PA1 1HD by the Kirk Session of Paisley Abbey In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. (c) 24/0829/LB - Demolition of Grade C Listed former dormitory building at St Joseph's Nursing Home, Kilbirnie Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4DY by Graisley Investments Ltd C Murray, Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. (d) 25/0007/EAC - Formation of up to 750MW Battery Energy Storage Facility, comprising of up to 88 battery storage container blocks and associated - infrastructure, storage containers, welfare facility, diesel generators, CCTV and lighting columns and associated access, internal access roads, hard and soft landscaping, SuDS Basin and perimeter fence at Neilston Grid Electricity Sub - station Complex, Gleniffer Road, Paisley by Energy Consents J Weir, Senior Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal.
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In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the Council’s position, as a statutory consultee to the Section 36 application, was that of no objection subject to and reliant upon the matters and topics set out in the conditions listed in the report and the requirements for the matters associated with decommissioning of the development and the restoration of the site being appropriately secured. Furthermore, for clarity, should conditions and/or a planning obligation covering each of these matters and topics not be imposed by the Energy Consent Units (ECU), then the Council’s position as a statutory consultee would be one of objection. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the Council submit no objection subject to and reliant upon the matters and topics set out in the conditions listed in the report and the requirements for the matters associated with decommissioning of the development and the restoration of the site being appropriately secured. Furthermore, for clarity, should conditions and/or a planning obligation covering each of these matters and topics not be imposed by the Energy Consent Units (ECU), then the Council’s position as a statutory consultee would be one of objection. This was agreed unanimously. (e) 25/0032/PP - Demolition of single storey commercial units and redevelopment of yard comprising of the erection of a two story office, workshop and storage facility with associated access, parking, fencing and associated works at 108 Hawkhead Road, Paisley PA2 7BA by Mr Greg Chalmers Lambert + Son Properties Ltd. J McCafferty, Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the application be refused for the reasons detailed within the report. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the application be refused for the reasons detailed within the report. (f) 25/0059/PP - Erection of sub-station with associated apparatus, fencing, de- mountable floodlights and access track at BAE Land UK - Environmental Test Facility, Glenluce Drive, Bishopton by Scottish Power Energy Networks. J Weir, Senior Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. Councillor Nicolson, seconded by Councillor Paterson moved that consideration of the application be continued to the next meeting of this Policy Board pending a site visit. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That consideration of the application be continued to the next meeting of this Policy Board pending a site visit.