A FORMER Helensburgh butcher’s shop is set to be turned into flats after council chiefs granted planning permission – despite four objections from people living nearby.
The premises at 89 East Clyde Street were vacated by McCune Prime Cut Fine Foods more than two years ago, and have lain empty since.
MC Trustees lodged a planning application with Argyll and Bute Council earlier this year for the conversion of the shop into two residential units.
The four objections all came from nearby residents, who were concerned about the loss of a retail unit to the town as well as loss of privacy, but the thumbs up was given earlier this month.
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A planning officer from the council said in a report: “The proposed front elevation changes to the existing shopfront is to form a residential doorway/frontage.
“This will be formed by the removal of the two large glazed shop front panels and insertion of three windows.
“The windows and doors are to be painted white and frontage walls to be finished with black tiles all to match existing.
“The proposed changes to the external appearance to the rear of the building are the insertion of three windows to the north elevation and the insertion of one door and two windows to the east elevation.
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“The ground floor level windows/door to the rear extension area will be closer than other windows to the rear communal area, however as this is on ground level there are no main windows on a habitable room directly facing the neighbouring properties.
“There is a slight increase in terms of overlooking within the curtilage of the common area.
“However, as this is a common curtilage shared by the residents and there is already overlook there are no sufficient or sustainable grounds to justify a refusal.
“Therefore, planning permission should be permitted in this instance.”
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