The Ballantrae Hotel has been refused consent for a 3-storey, 14-bedroom extension with external stair and canopy to the rear of its Albany Street premises at 11–13 York Lane (Ref. 11/03872/FUL).
Cogent objections were received from two nearby residents and the Cockburn Association.
City of Edinburgh Council Planners decided that the proposal's scale, height, form, elevational treatment and materials were contrary to the Edinburgh City Local Plan Policies Des 3, Env 1, 3, 6; and to the Non-Statutory Planning Guidelines on 'Mews'. They would have an adverse effect upon the setting of the listed buildings and upon the character and appearance of the New Town Conservation Area and World Heritage site.
Apart from that, they were fine.
A copy of the full decision letter and report (which includes an interesting potted history of previous developments locally) is available at the foot of this page.
A sign on the York Place side now advertises that the property is to let. It thoughtfully points out that the premises are 'suitable for a variety of uses subject to planning'.
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[img_assist|nid=2795|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=161]Planning permission is sought for extensions, modifications and other works (including 'altered windows, roof windows and doors') to the mews flat at 23 Dublin Street Lane South (Ref. 12/00659/FUL).
On the front elevation, the existing small windows would be replaced by timber-framed french windows projecting up through the current line of the gutter, and with a consequent safety requirement to install stainless steel balconies.
Judging from the plan, the altered position of the stair would occupy space in the garage, and appears to require the householder to downgrade from a Porsche to a Mini.
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Genting UK Ltd – owner of Maxim's Casino – seek listed building consent for internal changes at 5 York Place (Ref. 12/00670/LBC, Breaking news, 14.12.11).
The layout plans – which this correspondent found incomprehensible – were drawn up by Harrison, a London and Birmingham-based agency specialising in 'realising creative environments'.
Plans for the bar were clearer. They involve black granite, stainless and polished steel, acryllic inserts and internal illuminations. Plans for the listed building's domed ceiling entail painting it to resemble a night sky with stars.
We would suggest an assertively masculine taste prevails, likely to appeal to gentlemen night-owls with dark glasses and chunky gold signet rings.
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The Royal Bank of Scotland has been granted planning permission for its guard-rail and abseil facility at 34 Fettes Row (Ref. 12/00055/FUL; Breaking news, 14.2.12).
The Planning officer's report concluded that 'The proposal involves a steel structure to the front elevation of the building. Given the modern design of the building and existing presence of steel features between the stone columns on this elevation the scale and design is acceptable and the character and appearance to the conservation area will be negligible'.
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Before so much as a single bread roll has been baked in anger, organisers behind a new restaurant in Royal Terrace Gardens (Breaking news 12.12.11, 19.12.11) have successfully applied for permission to extend their opening hours from 9am–10pm to 8am–midnight (Ref. 11/03934/FUL)
This is unlikely to appeal to local residents, who already fear disruption and are opposed to a parallel application for a licence to serve alcohol outside the premises.
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The Gym Group has been refused consent for a 1500 cms x 800 cms, '100 cms deep folded aluminium facia panel painted white internally illuminated with push throught 16mm acrylic letters with applied vinyl and logo to face' (Ref. 12/00075/ADV, Issue 203) at the junction of 6 Waterloo Place and Waverley Gate.
A shame when one considers how much effort they went to in wording the description.
Planning officials decided that the sign 'would obscure a significant area of the polished ashlar sandstone of the recessed area at ground floor level which would adversely affect the appearance of this category A listed landmark building.
'The white colour and illumination of the sign would merelely emphasise its visual intrusion.'
However, at least it was considered 'not detrimental to public safety'.