Edinburgh bowling green hut to be transformed into new outdoor nursery after plans approved
An Edinburgh bowling green hut to be transformed into a new outdoor nursery after plans were approved last week.
Leith St Andrew's Playgroup & Nursery will take on the hut at 8A Loaning Crescent after its change of use from bowling green hut to play group facility, lodged in January, was approved on June 4.
The hut at the old bowling green will house toilets and kitchen areas, while a smaller bowling green will be placed to the west of the Restalrig site. Other works will also see the removal of timber outbuildings to be replaced with small containers for housing grass cutting equipment and external items.
The changes will replace a large mono-culture bowling green with a variety of playgrounds including the introduction of new natural planting around the site. The changes will see the creation of new habitats for animals, insects and birds.
Approving the plans, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “The existing bowling green is not designated as a high-quality space, has a declining attendance and is generally inaccessible to the public by way of a metal fence surrounding the site.
“The change of use from a bowling green to a nursery will not result in the overall loss of the bowling green as a small section of the original site is to be retained to the east. As such, the proposal complies with LDP Policy Env 23.
“The proposed new use to the west of the site will not be dissimilar to the existing uses and the site will remain viewable as a private open space area. Overall, the wider area has abundant open space provision, and the partial change of use of the bowling green will not have a significant impact on the open space provision available within the wider neighbourhood.
“The principle of the nursery is acceptable given that there would not be a significant impact on open space provision in the area, the change of use represents a congruous new use which would be compatible within the residential context of the application site, adding to the area's character and shall be acceptable in principle.”
According to the planning documents, works were due to commence on site this week, however when the Edinburgh Evening News checked the site on Friday, June13, there was no sign of any construction work as yet.
Two objections were received for this application, citing amenity concerns, transport and parking concerns, the over-provision of nurseries within the area, and a loss of open space.
Local resident Robert Kelly said: “Has there been any consideration to the quality of life for the residents who live in this street? Firstly the increased traffic, use of electricity and gas in the centre will increase the c02 emissions in this street quite significantly.
“There are already two very busy roads nearby which are commonly used by commuters and adding even more traffic within this area is very worrying. Also, you will be blocking the views from people's windows putting a centre here.”
While, fellow local resident Elizabeth Stewart said: “I think it would be unsafe for kids in this area as it is a busy road and cars parked on both sides of the road and insufficient parking as it is . And there is already a nursery in the area.”
The application site forms a bowling green bounded by Loaning Crescent to the west, north and east. From Loaning crescent, the green is overlooked by three-storey residential tenements with small front and substantial rear gardens. To the south lies Restalrig Drive with further residential buildings beyond the road.