Cafe plan for former sweet shop
A former Stirling city centre sweet shop could soon be serving up different fare.
Stirling Council planners have conditionally approved an application by Essel Securities Ltd for a change of use of 59 Port Street from Class 1 to Class 3 to allow it to be turned into a cafe or restaurant.
The vacant premises, in a prime corner spot, were most recently the home of Mr Simms Ye Olde Sweet Shop but have been empty since its closure in 2017.
The planners said given the prime retail area location such uses would normally only be supported if they not likely to be a nuisance to adjacent properties.
They added: “Also, specifically with Stirling City Centre and within the Prime Retail Area, changes of use at street level away from Class 1 retail use will be resisted, except where a vacant unit has been unsuccessfully marketed for this use for more than 12 months to the satisfaction of the council.
“The proposed development has been unsuccessfully marketed for more than one year. It is also proposed to be a class 3 use. It is not considered there will be a significant impact on neighbouring properties that would be detrimental to neighbouring residential amenity.
“There will be no external alterations to the unit. The proposed layout shows the inclusion of a kitchen and service area to the rear of the unit and seating to the front of the unit. There is an existing bin area located to the rear of the premises which has access via common open pend to Upper Craigs for uplift.
“Environmental Health were consulted on the application and commented that the proposed recirculation system is acceptable, provided that the system is operated and maintained to the manufacturers specification. Patron noise will also be mitigated through controlling the opening hours to ensure there is not significant dis amenity to the neighbouring residential properties.
“The proposed opening times are 8am until 11pm, Environmental Health did raise some concerns that these opening hours are suggestive of a takeaway operation, however this is proposed for a class 3 use which includes use for the following: a restaurant; as a cafes; as an establishment where food and drink is consumed on the premises.
“A hot food takeaway would be a sui generis use class and therefore they would need further planning permission to operate as such.”