The new Coop supermarket at 8 McDonald Road has been granted permission to extend its trading hours (Ref. 11/0420/FUL). From now on it will be open from 6.00am to 11.00pm (see Breaking news, 5.1.12). Planning officials say the 'the proposals comply with the development plan and have no adverse effect upon neighbouring amenity'.
This ruling came despite objections from a neighbour, Leith Central Community Council, and Councillor Deidre Brock (Ward 12), and against the explicit recommendation of Services for Communities (Environmental Assessment).
Originally, SCEA suggested that shop patrons' car doors slamming would cause disturbance, especially in the late and very early hours: 'This application will introduce operational noise and disturbance at one of the only times that the area benefits from a small period of quiet. Therefore, it is likely that the amenity of the area will see a further detrimental erosion should this application be granted'.
On these grounds, SCEA recommended that the application be refused.
However, in late February SCEA wrote again, this time in response to a Noise Impact Assessment submitted by the Coop. This document argued that noise associated with any successful application would not impact upon the existing amenity.
Clearly critical of this report, SCEA wrote in polite but strongly worded terms disagreeing with its conclusions for the following reasons:
- Extended hours of air-conditioning plant noise would have an impact
- Bin collections had not been included in the report, and early deliveries had already caused locals to complain to CEC's Noise and Planning Enforcement teams.
- SCEA did not believe the report's 'noise assessment levels are likely to provide a worst case assessment'.
- The report assumed patrons would park on McDonald Road and did not assess the increased effect of cars parking on quiet Hopetoun Crescent.
- The report did not assess doors slamming.
- The report acknowledged a small but 'insignifcant' addition to ambient noise. SCEA said any such increase would be detrimental.
Despite these very critical comments, Planning officials then blithely accepted the assertions of the Coop report. They did so without addressing in their written decision any of the Coop report's alleged shortcomings as raised by the Council's own experts. Instead, they mysteriously concluded that 'On balance the impact of the noise generated from the additional hours of this relatively small convenience retail store, on the existing levels of residential amenity would not be detrimental'.
'I was disappointed to hear this extension of hours was granted,' Councillor Brock told Spurtle this morning. 'I shall be monitoring very closely the effects it might have on surrounding residents.
'I would ask residents suffering as a result of increased noise levels – should this prove to be the case – to please get in touch with me either on Tel. 529 4187 or by email at deidre.brock@edinburgh.gov.uk.'
The Coop's Noise Impact Assessment, although listed among papers online, remains 'unavailable for viewing at this time'. A Planning officer puts this down to clerical error and expects it to be made accessible on the Council website early next week.
----- Reactions on Facebook and Twitter ------
Paul Burgess What noise? the shops right across from a student hall of residence which produced more noise. at least the shop offers a welcome alternative to tesco and scotmid in the area. too many nimbys around.
Neil Inglis