Plants to turn former Edinburgh cafe into dental surgery in Canonmills refused by council planners
Plants to turn a former cafe into a dental surgery in Canonmills have been refused by the council’s planning department.
Abdul Kader submitted an application in September for a change of use from café (Class 3) to a dental practice (Class 1A), at 24 - 27 Brandon Terrace. Externally, the proposals sought to introduce three new ventilation louvers to the shopfront.
The application site is a ground floor commercial unit within a four-storey tenement block, built in 1888, with a continuous podium of ground floor shops, and is situated in the New Town Conservation Area.
The plans were rejected on November 21, with planners ruling that the proposals would harm the listed building and do not accord with the Local Development Plan.
The council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “The proposals disrupt the architectural consistency of the shopfront and would result in the loss of a traditional shopfront.
“The prominent location of the commercial premises ensures that the shopfront makes an important contribution to the conservation area, and the proposals would fail to preserve or enhance its character or appearance.”
The plans received one objection on the council’s online planning portal, from a local resident who believed that the proposed change of use would not compliment the character of the local area.
Cédric Audinot said: “I strongly object to the proposed change of use from a café to a dental practice on our street. This development would be detrimental to the character and vibrancy of our community.
“There are already several dental practices in close proximity - at least five within walking distance and two within just 100 metres. This clearly demonstrates there is no local need for another one.
“In contrast, cafés play an important role in fostering social interaction, supporting local life, and creating welcoming spaces where residents can meet and build community connections.
“Losing such a space to yet another private medical business would erode the social fabric of our area and reduce the diversity of local amenities.
“I urge the planning authority to reject this application and to prioritise businesses that contribute to the social and communal wellbeing of the neighbourhood.”
The rejected proposals would have seen internal alterations carried out to add two surgery rooms and two waiting rooms on the ground floor. The basement kitchen area and staff room would have made way for a lab, an office, staff changing facilities and a new staff room.