An application to change the use of a small lock-up in East Scotland Street Lane from domestic garage to studio office has been turned down (Ref. 15/00700/FUL).
In what reads like a fairly comprehensive refusal, Planning officials stated that the proposal was contrary to:
- Edinburgh City Local Plan Policy Hou 8 in respect of Inappropriate Uses in Residential Areas, as this use cumulatively and detrimentally affects the living conditions or nearby residents.
- Edinburgh City Local Plan Policy Env 6 in respect of Conservation Areas - Development, as as the use is not appropriate within the lane as the lane is ancillary to residential use and office use will not preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area.
There had been 26 notes of objection to the proposal, including one from the New Town and Broughton Community Council.
Locals may be forgiven for feeling vexed by the persistence of those intent on upgrading the property.
7 June 2012 – retrospective planning permission granted to replace timber garage (Ref 12/01543/FUL)
15 August 2013 – refusal of use to form studio flat (Ref. 12/01863/FUL)
19 December 2013 – appeal against refusal dismissed (Ref. 13/00091/REF)
11 June 2014 – refusal to change use from garage to office (Ref. 14/1419/FUL)
20 August 2014 – appeal against refusal. Decision upheld
5 February 2015 – application to change use to studio office. Council declined to determine (Ref. 15/00147/FUL). CEC's decision was based on little having changed that would affect the previous decision based on policy about commercial uses in primarily residential areas. But that then prompted yet another claim by the developer that the presence of the studio office at 8 East Scotland Street Lane was a material consideration. For this reason, the Council undertook to address the point in this latest resubmission (i.e. 15/00700/FUL).
It is unclear to us whether the 'garage' is currently owned by Glasgow-based Andrew Bennie Planning Limited, or if that company is acting as an agent for another party. However, the firm states on its website:
We provide sound, commercially focused and professional advice, tailored to meet the specific needs of each client that we represent, with our overall objective being to create added value to our clients land and property assets through the planning system.
Whether those concerned will take this latest set-back lying down remains to be seen. Somehow, we doubt it.
------------------------------
@theSpurtle Oh for goodness sake, is this still going on? Zombie indeed. #offwithitshead
Rebecca Bridgland Jeez, give up. Can't they just bulldoze it? Shocking waste of council time and resource