This building in the leafy lane behind 8, Bellevue Crescent is raising hackles in the New Town Conservation Area.
At some point in 2012, a Mr Dermot Michael Ferrigan (who does not live locally) demolished the existing timber garage (erected without planning permission in 2010) and built in its place an ‘office structure’. Council officers visited the site and advised the owner that this replacement building itself required planning permission.
Mr Ferrigan duly applied in April 2012 to build a single garage in render blockwork (Ref. 12/01543/FUL), and – despite Historic Scotland’s preference for a timber replacement – won consent 2 months later. At this point the original Enforcement case was dropped.
However, so far, the approved garage has not been built and the office structure – with kitchenette, toilet, sink and shower – remains in place. It was reported for non-compliance with approved plans in September last year, and a second Enforcement case (Ref. 12/00577/ENCOMP) has been ‘pending consideration’ since.
Council action was promised early this month ‘within weeks’. However, a new application for change of use to form ‘studio flat accommodation’ was registered on 21 May (Ref. 13/01863/FUL). A decision is expected by 19 July.
Mr Ferrigan has been busy locally. In March 2013 – despite 9 letters of objection – he won planning consent to convert a different lock-up/garage at the far end of the lane into an office studio (Ref. 12/03242/FUL).
Some local residents fear this was the thin end of the wedge, and that the lane's days as a tranquil backwater may now be numbered.