Just outwith Broughton but arguably straddling the flexible frontier of Greater Spurtleshire, a site 14m to the east of 75 Albert Street is being proposed by Leith City Centre Neighbourhood as a new community garden. Permission has been granted for the erection of a 2.1m-tall metal post, fence, and 2 gates at the perimeter (Ref. 11/02220/FUL).
The applicant's artistic impression includes the now obligatory, omnipresent, North Korean-style public pledge of allegiance 'I LOVE LEITH', but apparently visualises the area as full of Tolkienesque dark riders. Perhaps a similar concern motivated one local to comment: 'Presumably keycode entry number will only be advised to residents/neighbours so that only those who should be able to access the area can do so.'
Spurtle is not entirely sure keycodes are compatible with community, or that a keycode would have protected the Shire from troublesome Nazgúl. Perhaps Albert Street hobbits should advertise for a wizard.
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City Planners have given the nod to 10 additional anchors for the Council's own 'festive catenaries' on George Street (Ref. 11/01116/LBC). No great surprise there, then: a bit like Santa's little elves voting for Christmas.
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Controversial rooftop proposals for 4 Bellevue Terrace will go ahead now that an appeal to the Local Review Body has been successful.
We first covered the story on 7.2.11, and the plan's subsequent refusal on 28.3.11.
Conflicting opinions, dashed hopes and heavy investment resulted in a very voluminous correspondence, pantechnicons of supporting statements and emotionally wrought background papers – all of which may be viewed by those with plenty of time and strong constitutions who care to visit Item 5.5 here.
Interesting – up to a point – was the question of whether or not the existing roof reflects the original architect's plans, or results from a later bodge by a 19th-century developer trying to squeeze in another flat to break even. Also interesting – particularly for those used to the lobbying techniques of teenaged daughters – were the alternately hurt and indignant squeals of present-day developers surprised to find themselves denied what they wanted despite extensive pre-application conversations with Council officials.
In the end, as described in Item 6 of the minutes below, the LRB:
... having visited the site, inspected the property internally and viewed it
from the open space opposite, was of the view that the effect of the proposals
on the character and appearance of the conservation area would be limited.
This property was already different at roof level from its neighbours and there
would be no significant change to the roof profile, other than the cut out section
to form the roof terrace. No part of the roof would be increased in height. The
character and appearance of the conservation area would therefore be
preserved. They also considered that the impact on the listed building would
not be significant and that the majority of the works would be screened by the
existing balustrade. The slate finish would be an improvement and any spillage
of light from the roof terrace at night referred to, would not be significant.
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The Broughton Street Smokestack's long-standing bid to change its shopfront (and increase its table capacity in the process) appears to have hit a brick wall (Ref. 11/00604/FUL). Its appeal to the Local Review Body against Council rejection of the plan (reported on 30.6.11) has failed. See Item 3 in the minutes below and Item 5.1 here.
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Permission has been granted for shopfront alterations around Clark's Bar at 146 Dundas Street (Ref. 11/02144/FUL), first reported a year ago in Breaking news (6.9.10).
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A new open-air foodmarket at the end of Saunders Street in Stockbridge has been given the go-ahead (Ref. 11/02077/FUL), despite objections from a neighbour concerned about noise, odour, the effect on local shops, and the chance that it might attract vermin. It will certainly attract residents from Broughton seeking nearby alternatives to supermarkets, and will – Spurtle feels – be a welcome addition to the north Edinburgh streetscape.
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The French Press Coffee Company seeks planning permission to change the use of premises at 25a Dundas Street to a restaurant (Ref. 11/02792/FUL).