Planning consent has been refused for the insertion of two refurbished police boxes for use as coffee kiosks on North Castle Street and Hanover Street (Refs 13/00141/FUL, 13/00142/FUL; see Breaking news, 22.1.13).
In the case of the North Castle Street proposal, City of Edinburgh's Transport consultees objected on the grounds that 'patrons congregating at the location will be detrimental to pedestrian safety at this busy crossing point'.
Nine other representations objecting were sent in, citing: potential noise and litter, obstruction of pedestrian movement, inappropriate site, and – from the Cockburn Association – fears of an adverse effect upon views.
Council officials agreed:
'[The] southward vista, even if argued as unplanned or inevitable, is very powerful and very easily damaged. The northward vista is more open but equally pleasant: framing Queen Street Gardens and the distant Forth Estuary and Fife beyond. These views are an essential part of the character of the street, the New Town Conservation Area and the World Heritage Site. Placing of any solid structure in the street would permanently impinge on both vistas.'
Officers were also concerned for the setting of nearby listed buildings:
'All these listed buildings are designed to be part of an open street of very strict scale and proportions. Each would suffer some loss of setting due to the location of an ex-police box here.'
In the case of the Hanover Street proposal, Transport had no objection, but other representations – again including one from the Cockburn Association – proved key. Council officers agreed that the siting of the kiosks would be far too prominent in relation to views south towards New College and the former Highland Tolbooth, and north towards the New Town and Fife beyond.
Once again, Council officers felt that the many listed buildings hereabouts would be adversely affected by an intrusive new pavement presence.