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GUESS WHO'S COMING TO SHRUB PLACE ...

Submitted by Editor on

Plans have emerged for yet another supermarket in Broughton’s already generously provided-for streets. 

Sainsbury’s intends to operate a ground-floor ‘Local Convenience Store’ within Unit 4 of the new Shrubhill development fronting Leith Walk at 7 Shrub Place (Ref. 14/04016/FUL). 

Spurtle first learned the news when developer WYG applied to change the terms of its existing planning consent in order to install an ATM cashpoint and two anti-ram-raid bollards. 

City of Edinburgh Council has already granted full permission for the shopfront with the exception of the ATM cashpoint and related signage. 

Sainsbury’s agent WYG concludes its Planning Statement with the words: 

The proposed ATM and associated ram raid bollards are considered to be a suitable addition to the shopfront which will add to the vitality and viability of the town centre. The ATM is proposed in a non-original shop-front and located in a discrete location within the smaller opening of the unit. Only a single ATM is proposed. The proposal will not impact on the character of the area or surrounding conservation area. There is adequate space in front of the ATM to ensure that there is adequate space for pedestrian circulation. Accordingly, we respectfully request that this application is approved.

We covered similar development news 2 weeks ago (Breaking news, 29.9.14) and a Twitter storm followed. Will readers react similarly this time, or are they now exhausted and beyond outrage? We find the amended design inoffensive enough. It is – as usual – the commercial impact on independent traders which concerns us: we wonder how much more 'vitality and viability' they can stand.

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An application to convert premises licensed for use as a café into a charmingly compact ‘studio flat’ (45.2 square metres) at 3A Dundas Street has been refused consent (Ref. 14/02469/FUL). 

Officials decided that occupiers’ amenity would be affected by lack of daylight and a ‘vertical sky component of less than 27%’.

The ground-floor property, formerly known as the Georgian Tearoom, was last on the market at offers over £99,000 but now appears to be no longer for sale.

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Something to say? You can contact us at: spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Broughton Spurtle 

@theSpurtle oh dear. And I thought we were at peak supermarket...

@theSpurtle Sainsbury is an anagram of 'bury in ass'. I do not support cruelty to animals.