Production bakery at Hall Sommerville Weir Hall Building, Quarriers Village

“The proposal is to continue use of the ground floor unit for the purposes of a commercial production bakery. The previous use (until 2021) included a kitchen and 55 seat dining area. The present use includes a food preparation area, a bake area (with canopy and flue), various storage rooms, washing areas and a packaging area. There is no longer any specific public area within the unit.”

“The application is not fully retrospective because the use as commercial bakery was established as ancillary to the café operation. However, the repurpose of the unit for the primary and sole use as commercial bakery does require planning consent.”

“The application site is part of the ground floor of Sommerville Weir Hall, Faith Avenue, Quarrier’s Village. The hall was constructed (then known as Central Hall) in 1878 as part of the Orphan Homes of Scotland Charity settlement. The early history of the building included uses as a place of worship and a school.”

“The building is owned by the Quarrier’s business and charity with the upper floor utilised for training and community events. Part of the ground floor is occupied by the bakery/café with the remainder used for sports changing facilities (consented via 25/0088/IC).”

“Since 2011 the unit has operated as a café, with an ancillary use as a commercial bakery; providing off site sales of baked goods which included wholesale supply, farmers markets and online retailing. As the café could not operate due to Covid restrictions, the unit continued to operate solely as a commercial bakery from 2021 until the present day. The café facility did not reopen after 2021.”

“As the primary use of the unit had changed to commercial bakery an application for a change of use is required.”

“Policy 7 of NPF4 requires the retention of natural and built features that contribute to the merits of the conservation area. Proposals in or affecting conservation areas will only be supported where the character and appearance of the conservation area and its setting is preserved or enhanced.”

“Policy 20 of the proposed Local Development Plan requires development within residential areas to be assessed with regard to their impact on the amenity, character and appearance of the area. As discussed throughout this report, the setting of Quarrier’s Village is unique, and the settlement lacks the conventional arrangements of a defined centre with business and retail uses. The use of a building for a Class 5 use in this context is unusual.”

“Head of Public Protection - advises the following: the applicant should submit a detailed specification of storage facilities for waste and recycling, including details of the areas for storage; deliveries should not be carried out between 23:00 and 07:00 hours.”

“The applicant has confirmed the provision of one accessible parking space in accordance with national parking standards.”

“The application was the subject of neighbour notification. Eight representations from seven households were received, with seven objecting to the proposal. The grounds for objection are summarised as follows:”

“Factory has zero benefit to the public and would be better suited to an industrial estate. • Loss of café and social element of having a meeting place. • Bakery uses a space that could be repurposed as a café/restaurant. • Poor vermin control and inadequate use of refuse bins. • Pick up service causing traffic problems. • Inappropriate building as the property is historically significant. • Poor relationship between operators and public.”

“Quarrier’s Village has no defined town or local centre and the conservation area is largely dominated by residential property. The location of Class 5 (general industrial) use in such a location is relatively unusual. However, there is no specific exclusion of such a use. The established use of the ground floor was a café/restaurant with ancillary use as a commercial bakery.”

“Decided: that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:- (1) that the development to which this permission relates must be begun within 3 years of the date of this permission, to comply with Section 58 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended);”

“(3) that the bakery hereby approved shall be restricted to operational hours of between 08:00 and 20:00 hours Monday to Sunday. For the avoidance of doubt, and in accordance with Condition 2 above, deliveries to and from the site can be carried out between the hours of 07:00 and 20:00 Monday to Sunday, in the interests of public amenity;”