Vodafone UK wants to instal 6 Vodafone and O2 antennae within 4 replacement GRP chimney pots, with associated equipment to be located within an internal cupboard and ancillary development at The Royal Scots Club at 30 Abercromby Place (Ref. 12/01410/FUL; 12/1411/LBC).
The application follows an unsuccessful attempt to instal a smaller number of antennae last summer (Breaking news, 12.8.11). The reason for the Royal Scots Club's keenness to host this addition may of course be an altruistic wish to facilitate the important conversations of Edinburgh's chattering classes, or it may have something to do with money for old rope.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, there is no detailed application form available online.
It will be interesting to see in this case how long the Planning Subcommittee concerns itself with a problem of compositional identity touching on Hobbes's and Plutarch's ship of Theseus. What would meaningfully distinguish a Category A-listed building with real and historic chimney pots from one with fake, replacement ones, particularly if neither set of pots were being used to vent smoke and nobody could tell the difference?
We are no Planning experts, but are reminded of the Reporter's judgment in a recent appeal concerning proposed changes to a roof in the New Town (Breaking news, 26.9.11). On that occasion, the official in question, Donald Harris, 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'.
[See Update at foot of page.]
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Royal Bank of Scotland has been granted permission to demolish the former steam laundry/pie factory at 11–13 Eyre Terrace (Ref. 11/03575/CON; Breaking news, 22.11.11; 12.1.12).
Historic Scotland requires any eventual replacement to have at worst a 'neutral' impact on the character of the area.
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Margiotta's have applied for permission to erect (we think illuminated) box signs on both elevations of their Northumberland/Howe Streets premises (Ref. 12/01374/ADV). The move is clearly a further response to the arrival of flashy competition nearby.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, there is no detailed application form available online.
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[img_assist|nid=2983|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=134]The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh seeks permission for replacement of its existing seating area outside the Terrace Café (Ref. 12/04402/FUL).
Changes include a proposal to erect a new retractable fabric awning and fabric canopies. The plans are entirely inoffensive. However, Spurtle would miss the time-honoured, gentle pitter-patter of squirrel droppings on the scones of yummy-mummies below.
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Update
Spurtle asked Euan Leitch, Assistant Director at the Cockburn Association, what he thought about proposed imitation chimney pots on the Royal Scots Club. He replied: 'Strange one that. Vodafone have been turned down for 3, then refused 4 and are now asking for 6. The Cockburn Association does not appear to have commented on the previous cases. As regards trying to spot the GRP shrouded antenna on St Stephen's Church: prominent position, but can you see them?''