Edinburgh city centre Italian restaurant submits plans for new enclosed dining area to rear terrace

An Edinburgh city centre Italian restaurant has submitted plans for a new enclosed dining area on its rear terrace.

The Scarpetta Italian restaurant at 38 George Street in Edinburgh city centre. | Google Maps

Scarpetta owner Antonio Crolla applied to the council’s planning department on July 16 for permission to build an enclosed dining area on the rear terrace of the existing restaurant at 38 George Street, and all associated site works.

The application site is currently an outdoor area which can accommodate 12 diners, with a storage shed situated to the side.

The plans show that the proposed new enclosed dining area would have frameless glazed bi-fold doors and outdoor planting.

The new extension to the Italian restaurant will accommodate 26 diners indoors, giving an increase of 14 diners. The plans show no other proposed changes to the existing eaterie, with the layout in the main restaurant remaining the same as it currently is.

The plans on the left show the proposed new enclosed dining area, which would replace the existing rear terrace, seen on the right. | Format Design

In the planning documents, the applicant provided more details regarding the planning extension at Scarpetta on George Street.

He said: “The enclosure has been intentionally set back from the listed building to maintain a clear separation between the historic fabric and the proposed contemporary addition.

“The setback creates an external planted area which softens the transition between old and new, provides access for maintenance, and retains an open space adjacent to the listed building.

“Frameless glazed bi-folding doors open onto the planted area, allowing the enclosed dining space to extend outwards during the summer months, and creating a seamless connection between the internal and external areas, while maintaining the sense of an outdoor courtyard.”

This planning document shows how the new enclosed dining area would look if the plans are approved. | Format Design

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The council’s planning department will now decide whether or not to approve this application for 38 George Street, which has so far received no public comments on the online planning portal.

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