Restaurant plan for old bank site
A former city centre bank building is to be turned into a restaurant.
The prominent corner site premises at 2 Pitt Terrace, next to Domino’s and Iceland, has lain empty ever since Royal Bank of Scotland closed the doors on the branch in November 2018.
Following the closure it was marketed for sale as retail and offices, with no apparent takers.
However, property developers Sava Estates have now been granted conditional approval for a change of use by Stirling Council planners to turn the premises into an eaterie with takeaway facility.
Plans show the premises would have seating and food preparation areas, and customer toilets with a total of eight cubicles plus a disabled facility.
No indication has been given so far of who the potential tenants might be.
One objection was submitted to the application citing that there was adequate provision for this type of facility surrounding the site.
However, planners said overprovision was not a material planning consideration and that the proposal would “further diversify this part of the city centre”.
Concerns were also raised about cooking odours and insufficient parking, however the planners said environmental health had raised no objections and there would be a ventilation flue.
They added: “Stirling Council Transport Development offered no objection to the proposal submitted, and there are no transport conditions to be applied to any consent granted.
“Six car parking spaces will be available to the rear of the premises which, along with the adjacent multi-storey car park provides the facility for users to park in close proximity. A bikehire scheme operates directly to the front of the premises and there are bus stops nearby and the rail station is a short walk away. As such the site is considered to be accessible via a number of modes.”
In their decision they said: “The application site is located within the city centre, but not within the prime retail area. The property at 2 Pitt Street is a 2 storey flat roofed building towards St Ninians Road and single storey to the rear. It is of modern build of non-descript appearance. The property occupies a corner location at the junction of St Ninians Road and Wellgreen, opposite Park Terrace.
“Previously occupied by a branch of The RBS, the premises are now vacant and have been so for some time.
“Both the ground and upper floor are owned by the applicant though this application refers solely to the ground floor. The upper floor currently operates as offices and there are no proposals to change that situation.
“Externally the only change to the building will be the erection of signage (separate application) and a ventilation flue which will be attached to the rear of the building.
“It is anticipated that the restaurant will operate between the hours of 10am-11pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am-midnight on Friday and Saturday.
“Refuse is to be stored within the premises and placed outside for uplift by the appointed contractor on the appointed day.
A new RBS branch opened at the Thistles shopping centre earlier last year following the closure of the branches at Pitt Terrace and also in Bridge of Allan and Dunblane.