Plan to turn Bridge of Allan flat into gallery
A flat in Bridge of Allan could be turned into a new home for a local art gallery.
Claire and Leigh Fotheringham have submitted a change of use application to Stirling Council planners for a lower flat at Beechgrove House at 49 Henderson Street.
They want to move The Fotheringham Gallery, currently based at number 78 on the street, to the flat.
An application has also been submitted for a free standing hanging sign on a post to be mounted outside.
In documents submitted with the application, agents for the applicants said: “The property at number 49 comprises a two bedroom ground floor flat within an imposing two storey stone property (Beechgrove) facing southwards towards Henderson Street.
“An existing three bedroom flat occupies the first and attic floors (51 Henderson Street) and an attached one bedroom flat (51A) is attached to the rear of the property.
“The dwelling has front garden areas with grass and gravel finishes with a paved access path from Henderson Street.
“There is no parking provision directly assocaited with the premises.
“The proposal is to relocate the applicants’ existing Bridge of Allan art gallery business to the premises with no significant alteration to the internal configuration of the premises. The two bay windowed front rooms (along with central entrance hallway) will become public trading areas. The rear bedroom and kitchen areas will become ‘back of house’ office, store with packaging rooms and the bathroom will be reconfigured to provide an improved accessible toilet facility.
“The anticipated number of staff at any one time will be two.
“The gallery business will, in its new location, continue to function very much along the lines of that currently operating from the premises at 78 Henderson Street. While the gallery business enjoys having a prominent street presence for casual visitor footfall, the majority of sales are completed online via the gallery website and sent out via courier, with the gallery becoming more often used for customers viewing online purchases before completion and making collections.”
The agents said the relocated gallery business will have “no significant impact on traffic movement in Bridge of Allan” and that all deliveries are by way of car, or occasional van, “on a frequency and scale no greater than that of deliveries to any regular residential property”.
They added: “Existing public car parking facilities will continue to be used by visitors and delivery vehicles.
“A new freestanding sign is proposed to the front garden area very much along the lines of a nonilluminated hanging sign on a bracket and post of residential character.”
Council planners are expected to make a recommendation on the application in due course.
A new freestanding sign is proposed to the front garden Planning statement