A vacant shop in Blairgowrie looks set to be reinvented as a pub and restaurant.
National pub chain JD Wetherspoon has lodged an application for a change of use of the 1960s Woolworth store in Allan Street.
The plans for internal and external alterations and a new shop front will be examined by councillors on Wednesday.
”The site is narrow and deep in form, which relates to the traditional street character of the town,” says the council’s development quality manager Nick Brian in his report to the development control committee.
”The proposal includes refurbishing the existing building internally, providing a new ground floor frontage, framed in hardwood, with associated signage on the Allan Street elevation.
”The north west and north east elevations remain unchanged. The existing service yard is proposed to be split into two separate areas to maintain a service yard and create a new outside sitting area, which will be accessed from the proposed side access doors (via the premises from the Allan Street entrance).
”A chimney is proposed to the rear on the middle, lower section of flat roof to provide a flue for a feature fire proposed on the ground floor, pub level.
”All public house activity will be restricted to the ground floor with staff offices, customer toilets and cooled store on the first floor (to the rear of the building). The existing third floor will remain undeveloped.”
The development has been met with a mixed reaction locally, with some welcoming a new use for the building, which last operated as a Poundsworth, and the jobs it will bring.
But others fear the impact it will have on the centre of Blairgowrie and existing pubs.
Mr Brian, recommending approval, says: ”The proposals are considered to be an improvement overall in providing a new retail frontage, more conducive to the character and appearance of the Blairgowrie Conservation Area.”
Some concern had been expressed about opening hours and the possibility of odours and litter but Mr Brian said it was felt there would not be an adverse impact on residential amenity.
”A mix of uses is generally accepted in a town centre location and provided that the additional impacts from a use such as that currently proposed can be adequately controlled through appropriate conditions then it is considered that it would be acceptable,” he says.