If at first you don't succeed, plan, plan again. The top-floor flat-dweller at 4 Bellevue Terrace whose proposals bit the dust after a protracted struggle earlier this year (Breaking news, 26.9.11) has – with commendable determination and no little optimism – returned to the fray.
Once again drawn up by Richard Murphy Architects, the new proposals (Ref. 11/03469/FUL) entail:
Internal modernisation through removal of later addition walls, entrance hall restored to original proportions. Cover existing felt roof with re-used Scotch slate. Form sunken roof terrace with sliding glass doors and dark stained timber cladding. Remove existing uPVC windows, widen two openings and fit new dark stained timber framed windows. Infill third opening with external finish to match existing lead panels.
These startling changes are perhaps most evident here, visualised from a top-floor flat on Bellevue Crescent.
It will be interesting to see how City Planners react given the judgement of the Scottish Government's Reporter to an earlier proposal for the property.
Donald Harris, the official in question on that occasion, refused listed building consent on the grounds that the plan introduced an 'alien element' that would disrupt the listed building's 'simple inoffensive form ... to the detriment of the architectural quality of the building'. He continued: 'The integrity of the structure of a listed building is protected irrespective of whether any proposed works would be seen from outside'.
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Openreach's application (Ref. 11/03155/FUL) to position a DSML broadband telecommunications cabinet 6m to the north of 22 Broughton Street has been withdrawn at the request of the applicant's agent. No reason was communicated.
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An application for retrospective listed building consent to convert offices into a dwelling house at 16B York Place (Ref. 11/03507/LBC) includes interesting plans. In addition to three bedrooms, an office, lounge, gigantic storage, two shower-rooms and a bathroom, the property appears to have so long a hall that its owner could take off and land a microlight aircraft.
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Trinity-based Capital City Church International seeks a change of use from offices to a church/offices at 107, 107B, 107C McDonald Road (Ref. 11/03401/FUL).
The church plans two 2-hour services on Sundays, to be held in 107B, with the office space at 107A forming an acoustic buffer to neighbouring properties. In addition to 10 existing parking spaces, the church will have the use of spaces behind 107C and to the right of 107B: 'Thus there will be no on-street parking.'
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[img_assist|nid=2351|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=164]Plans are afoot to convert workshops and offices at 5 Bonnington Road Lane into a rehearsal room / recording studio and office (Ref. 11/03603/FUL).
Woosh Entertainments claim there is strong demand in the city for such facilities, and argue that the location – well served by buses and with a free parking area to the front – is ideal. The studio would be fully sound-proofed. Clients would be fully vetted. A strict no-alcohol policy would be implemented on the premises.
It's almost as if Woosh think musicians have a bad name.
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Not in our patch, but readers may be interested to see how Tesco got comprehensively knocked back on plans for a store in Haymarket. See Ref. 11/03083/FUL.