PLANS for a new tearoom on the Cowal Peninsula, with four apartments on its upper floors, have been recommended for approval – despite disagreement among council officers.
The proposal by Scott Raeburn and his wife for the former Susy’s Tearoom site at Tighnabruaich has attracted six objections from the public.
A report has also stated that roads officials at Argyll and Bute Council have said that the plans should be refused, but planning officers have overruled them and recommended approval.
The site has lain vacant since 2021 when the previous building was removed, and is located close to the pier where Paddle Steamer Waverley passengers board and disembark.
Councillors are recommended to approve the plans at a meeting of the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee on Wednesday, January 21.
A council officer said in a report: “The application is for the erection of a building that would accommodate a new café/restaurant on the ground floor and the introduction of four self-catering flatted apartments with balconies on the upper floors.
“The proposed building would be approximately eight metres in height and would have a flat roof. The top mezzanine level would be stepped back/recessed. The predominant external wall finish would be white render but the top floor would feature Eternit panel grey cladding.
“A previous application was refused due to overdevelopment and the scale not being appropriate. The current proposal involves a reduction in the scale of built development through the removal of the staff accommodation block and a significant number of design amendments have been made.
“It is considered that the site has the capacity to accommodate this revised scale and design with regard to all material planning considerations.
“The roads department are recommending refusal as they do not consider the parking spaces in the large neighbouring car park to represent a suitable provision and are of the view that the number of proposed on-site spaces is insufficient to meet the increase in parking demand resulting from the proposed development.
“It is the opinion of the planning department that the use of the public car park by patrons and members of staff of the proposed café/restaurant can be accepted as this was the situation that existed for decades in association with the previous Susy’s Tearoom.”
“The revised scheme is considered to satisfactorily address the reasons for refusal on the previous application in relation to the overdevelopment of the site, the design detailing and the lack of in-curtilage car parking.
“The roads department have recommended refusal given the non-compliance with Local Development Plan 2 policy 40 but it is considered that the shortage of three parking spaces can be considered as a minor departure to policy given the other benefits of the proposal.
