Former Edinburgh hair and beauty salon to be transformed into new Colinton coffee shop after plans accepted

Cameron Gunn from Munro Coffee applied on March 6 for a change of use for the former Colinton Hair Design unit at 4A Bridge Road, Edinburgh. The proposals included the installation of new shop frontage and paint finishes to the front elevation.

The application site relates to a small 13.18 sq m, single-storey flat-roofed commercial unit. A takeaway and retail unit adjoin the application property to either side.

Changes set to be made to the unit to facilitate the change of use include a new hardwood shopfront with new hardwood pattern door, and a timber-lined stall riser at the base of a new glazed screen.

The former Colinton Hair Design salon at 4a Bridge Road, Colinton, previously also known as Lavender Blue, is situated between a food takeaway shop and Co-Op store. | Google Maps

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The shop front will be finished in dark grey with the main fascia featuring a light brown colour for signage details.

Approving the plans on April 29, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “The proposed alterations are minor in nature and would give a similar visual appearance to the existing shopfront. The dark colour scheme would appear compatible with the character of the existing building and in the context of the conservation area.

“The proposed alterations to the shopfront would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area and is therefore acceptable.

“The proposal is of an acceptable design and would be compatible with the character of the existing building. There are no other material considerations that outweigh this conclusion.”

The changes were approved despite an objection by the The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, which was later found to be in relation to another site that had been submitted in error, and was therefore not considered by the council’s planning department when approving this application.