PLANS for a Helensburgh takeaway to be converted into additional hotel accommodation have been approved by council officers at the second time of asking.
Management at The County Hotel lodged the plans for the Curry Club, on Old Luss Road, in 2023, but they were refused in July of the next year due to concerns about road safety.
Argyll and Bute Council has now given the go-ahead to a revised application, with roads officials now expressing no objection, subject to conditions.
Five objections and one representation were received from the public by the authority during the planning process. The plans will see nine new rooms added to the hotel, along with 15 new parking spaces.
An officer said in a handling report: “The existing property is single storey with a shop front and is adjoining to the neighbouring convenience store. The footprint of the existing unit is approximately 150sqm.
“The existing neighbouring hotel wishes to expand its offering by forming nine bedrooms within the vacant unit (five on the ground floor and four within the roof space).
“The existing shop front door will be removed and replaced by a glazed screen, this screen and the shopfront window will have an opaque film applied.
“Secondly, it is proposed to from a new car park to the north of the application site adjacent to the convenience store, this car park will be accessed via a new junction and will have 15 parking spaces.
“Lastly, it is proposed to reduce the existing on-street layby in front of the vacant unit and convenience store and stop-up the existing access down the side of the convenience store so that the required visibility splays for the new car park junction can be met.
“It is considered that the conversion of the vacant hot food takeaway to from additional hotel bedrooms to increase the offering of the neighbouring hotel is acceptable. It is also considered that the formation of a new car park on brownfield derelict land is also acceptable.
“The proposed external alterations to the existing property are minimal and are in keeping. In terms of potential effects on the privacy or amenity to surrounding properties, it is considered given the orientation and separation distances there would be no adverse impacts on the privacy, amenity or daylighting to nearby properties.”
The report added: “It is noted that the roads area manager previously objected to the proposals and the previous application was refused on road safety grounds, however, the applicants revised the proposals relating to the access junction, the reduction of the layby and prepared a traffic survey and parking report.
“Considering the additional information and revised plans the area roads manager has revised their consultation response and has confirmed that they have no objection subject to planning conditions.”
