Capital pub wins its battle over awning for smokers
SMOKERS will be able to light up while sheltered from the elements at a George Street bar after it won a battle with the city council over plans to build a smoking shelter.
Bosses at the Standing Order wanted to create a sheltered area with an awning where around 25 smokers at a time would be able to step out for a cigarette.
But smokers faced having to light up in the rain after members of the city council's planning committee objected to the awning.
They ruled that the steel-framed decked area complete with retractable awning towards the back of the building "overwhelmed" architectural features and "eroded" its character.
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon, which owns the city centre nightspot, appealed to the Scottish Executive, which has now overturned the council's decision.
Reporter Roger Wilson decided the work would have "little or no detrimental effect" on the building, a former bank.
In a report to councillors recommending refusal, head of planning Alan Henderson said that while the area of the building planned for the smoking shelter was relatively inconspicuous, the platform would be "untypical".
"The overall impact of the framework, platform and awning overwhelms the architectural features of this part of the building," he said.
Separate plans for a decked area without an awning were later given the green light by councillors, but the bar wanted to put up a proper shelter to provide protection from the elements and decided to appeal.
In his ruling, Mr Wilson said he was satisfied with the awning plan.
"This is an area of the building where, historically, the design was a secondary consideration to the functional requirements of providing light, access and services," he said.
"That situation remains unchanged, although the servicing has been considerably extended. Having regard to these factors, I am satisfied that the relatively minor works would have little or no detrimental effect on the character of the space and the setting of the listed building.
"Although the awning and framework would be attached to the listed building and a doorway would be formed from a window, the net overall effect on the fabric of the listed building would be minimal, so as to preserve it."
Standing Order spokesman Eddie Gershon
said: "We respect the views of Edinburgh City Council but no doubt they appreciate we have a right of appeal and having taken that we are pleased the application has been granted.
"We have never been anti-smoking and like other operators it is important we attract both smokers and non-smokers to our pubs.
"Smokers cannot now smoke within the pub so wherever possible, subject to planning and space we try to provide some kind of facility and at The Standing Order, as a result of the appeal being overturned, we can now get on with this."
City council planning convener Trevor Davies did not comment on the circumstances of the Standing Order application but said: "I am very pleased the new planning Bill in front of parliament will remove these kinds of matters from the Executive and allow the local authority to make the decision."
Mr Henderson added: "The current planning system allows the council's decisions to be appealed and it is not unusual that some of these are overturned. We are satisfied with our planning processes."
