The gradual evolution of 2 Hart Street Lane continues, with minor variations to an already consented revamp of the northern elevation being approved (Ref. 15/05345/FUL).
The Council’s Handling Report describes the Category B-listed structure as ‘a three storey nineteenth century building which was originally constructed as an extension to the rear of 4 Forth Street’. It makes no mention of perhaps fanciful claims made in the past that the building once served as a ‘Huguenot monastery’.
The settled view now seems to be that No. 2’s vaguely religious appearance, as seen from the east, derives from its construction using builder’s rubble, including some windows from a former church.
Clydesdale Banks are disappearing all over the place these days, and one of the latest branches to vanish into thin air is that at 20 Hanover Street.
The property is owned by the Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh, who reckon the best use for the site is as a restaurant.
They have now applied to put a kitchen and loos in the basement; separate bar, lobby, and restaurant under the dome on the ground floor; offices and plant on the first and second floors (Ref. 17/01359/FUL).
No tenant has yet been identified for the building, but whatever cooking smells the new occupant generates will be piped from basement to roof at a rate of 34 mph via an internal flue. Cuisine-specific filters (95% effective) will be installed as part of the new restaurant’s Building Control application, as will ‘acoustic treatment’ to prevent noise or vibration.
For those interested in subterranean Edinburgh, we recommend the basement plan, which reveals a fascinating warren of underground water closets.
In more restaurant-related news, we regret to report that the 580-year-old Tartan House looks likely to leave the New Town soon (Issue 256; Letters 1.10.16).
The owner of 100–104 George Street, CBRE Global Investors, has applied for a change of use here from Class 1 retail to Class 3 restaurant, and has Brazilian steakhouse chain Fazenda lined up to move in (Ref. 16/04599/FUL).
The new outlet would apparently bring investment of over £1.5 million and create 70 jobs.
For those needing stronger glasses to spot and remove any stray hairs from their meat, help is at hand. Optical Express are first in line to take over next-door at No. 102.
A change of use from shop to restaurant is also envisaged at 104 George Street, and the owner is in ‘advanced discussions’ with a number of ‘high quality operators’.
[Silhouette image courtesy of Max Pixel.]