New retail and restaurant hub proposed at former Northfield chip shop site
Plans are underway for a retail and restaurant hub at the former Barracuda Chip Shop site
Plans have been submitted for a new retail and restaurant hub at the site of a former chip shop in the Northfield area of the city.
Southside Student Build Ltd is looking for permission to build a two-storey shop and restaurant unit, with landscaping, cycle parking, and car parking at 2C Northfield Drive, the site of the former Barracuda Chip Shop, which was demolished in 2025.
A proposal was previously approved in 2024 to build student flats on this site, and the adjacent site which used to house the Silver Wing pub.
However, plans have now been submitted to build a four-storey 82-room hotel at the former pub site by 83S Ltd, as well as these Southside Student Build Ltd plans for the retail and restaurant hub at the former chippy site next door.
The proposed building height is half that of the consented building height and the simple rectangular form is set back with a green buffer between the building and the pavement. Service area and a small amount of parking is proposed to the rear which will be accessed from the retained Telecoms Mast access road.
In the planning documents for the former chippy site, the applicant said: “We propose to reconstruct a strong urban edge to the development as this site represents a key point along the Willowbrae Road/ Northfield Drive street frontage.
“To complement this, we also propose integrating a strong green frontage to echo the surrounding public green spaces and dense, leafy character. This will also act as a buffer for the proposal in terms of privacy and noise.
“The result will be an attractive building to act as a landmark and a key point of use and interest.”
Referencing the previous approval for this site, the applicant added: “The proposal is for a two-storey development above street level. In response to the approved scheme we propose all development be kept within the scale and massing of the granted scheme with the footprint also within this area.
“As opposed to the previous application which continued the high-level sweep of Willowbrae Road onto Northfield Drive, this proposal reduces the massing of this proposal by two storeys.
“The result is a proposal which steps more in line with the massing of the context and surrounding topography. This will present a more gradual sloping appearance to this corner of the site.”
The proposals utilise the same type and colour of brick, and window/ door finishes as utilised by the consented scheme. Windows and doors are proposed PPC aluminium, coloured grey to provide a contrast to the light coloured masonry.
Secure cycle storage will be provided, with cycling as a sustainable method of transport. The outline proposals include the use of renewable technologies such as Heat Pumps / PV Panels for the generation of heating and hot water.