Edinburgh plans for new coffee shop at former jewellery shop at Princes Street approved

Blank Street Coffee’s planning application for a change of use for the store at 78 Princes Street, on the corner with Hanover Street, was approved by the City of Edinburgh Council’s planning department on November 5.

The former Ernest Jones jewellery shop will now be altered to provide the new coffee shop on Edinburgh’s main shopping street. Changes will include new signage, shopfront panels and frames to be replaced and painted in a green matte shade, new external light fixtures, new tile cladding to an existing column, and new stainless steel cladding at the entrance.

An artist's shopfront impression of the new coffee shop under Yo Sushi and next to Sketchers. | City of Edinburgh Council

The products available within the unit will be a mixture of self-service and those served directly by members of staff upon request at the main counter, the latter helping to aid accessibility.

The existing window displays and existing steps will be removed, and new entrance doors within the alcove will be installed. Shutter condition and housing detail will be checked on site, the ceiling will be painted white and the main entrance shutter will remain in place.

An artist's impression of the new Blank Street Coffee Shop proposed for the vacant jewellery shop on the corner of Hanover Street and Princes Street, Edinburgh. | City of Edinburgh Council

Approving the plans, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “The proposals have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building and its setting, and will not adversely impact on its special architectural and historic interest. The proposals will preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area.

“The proposals comply with the objectives of the Development Plan. There are no material considerations that outweigh this conclusion.”

The application relates to the ground floor unit on the corner of Princes Street and Hanover Street. The three-storey building is Category B listed and was built in the late 18th century.

The application site is located within the New Town Conservation Area and the World Heritage Site. The applicant now has three years to change the use of the unit and carry out renovations.