We are all of us struggling through the Recession in our own ways. Hard-pressed residents of the Regent, Royal and Carlton Terraces are clearly tightening belts in Austerity Scotland by eschewing fancy sports clubs and smartening up their communal back green instead.
The local Gardens Committee has applied to enlarge the existing tennis court into an all-weather one 'to the standard size' (Ref. 12/03085/FUL). The work (organised by Richard Murphy Architects Ltd) will involve replacing the current brick-dust surface of the private court with green asphalt, repositioning the surrounding fence, and lopping down and replacing 6 mature trees which have been thoughtlessly causing root damage in the vicinity.
In this commendable endeavour, Regent, Royal and Carlton Terrace patriots will of course not only be saving money for their retirements and encouraging local construction workers, but also raising a new generation of Andy Murrays in whom we can all take pride: three reasons why the project should not be thought of simply as an act of monstrous self-indulgence.
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[img_assist|nid=3364|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=150]Material variations to the plans for a mews flat behind 4a Fettes Row have been submitted (Ref. 12/03077/FUL) on behalf of a client by Tinto Architecture. The changes include: additional doors/windows/roof lights, altered elevations/glass balusters, repositioned downpipes/external stone steps, and a reworked exit.
The plans supersede those controversially consented at about this time last year (Breaking news, 20.9.11) and appear intended, in part at least, to harmonise the new structure's rear elevation with those of its neighbours on either side.
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Do you ever feel there are too many telecommunications masts? An upgrade is planned for the one at 68 Logie Green Road on the chimney of the Lady Haig Poppy Factory (Ref. 12/03183/PNT). The name of the applicant? Everything Everywhere Limited. Perhaps that should have been Everything Everywhere Without Limit.
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[img_assist|nid=3365|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=150|height=200]The PM Partnership, now based in Hopetoun Terrace, continues to seek permission to convert offices at 18 Great King Street back to use as a residential townhouse and garden flat, and to add a mews house to the rear backing onto Cumberland Street Lane (Ref. 12/01955/FUL; Breaking news, 19.6.12).
Transport and Environment officials have no objections, and neither does Historic Scotland – indeed it welcomes the removal of later infill development below the platt. (We think infill development means car parking, and platt means lawn.) However, it pointed out to Planning officials that 'As you know, not all properties on Great King Street had mews buildings and your council will therefore need to consider the principle of development in this location'.
[Image top-right: courtesy of Carine06 (Creative Commons licence)]