Popular Inverness cafe seeks to extend offering to include hot food
Owners of a popular cafe in the Culduthel area of Inverness want to add hot food to its offerings.
A change of use for Shakes ‘n’ Cakes in Culduthel Mains Avenue is required to allow it to provide hot food, with an extraction flue also having to be fitted for that.
According to a report going before Highland Council’s south planning applications committee today retail units at the site had previously been granted permission “specifically excluding Class 3 use hot food takeaway”.
Despite this - and despite objections on numerous grounds by the local community council - planners are recommending councillors approve the change of use.
Lochardil and Drummond Community Council points out how the site is adjacent to housing and community woods and states in its response to the application: “Notwithstanding the efficacy of the filtration system there will be residual odours emitted from the flue which due to the low level of the roofline will negatively impact on the amenity of the woods and houses alike.”
It adds that light pollution previously complained about would remain “or even get worse” as the premises attracts greater custom.
Further objections are lodged with regard to noise pollution, traffic and litter.
“Additionally, the Inverness Royal Academy is at the end of the road and, no doubt, fast-food options will attract pupils - this will clearly impact on the potential for increased littering and scavenging by gulls and potentially by rodents (both being potential sources of zoonotic infections) from the woods thereby introducing them to the built environment,” it states.
And in terms of the school’s proximity it adds: “Given the IRA’s location in relation to the shop it is questionable whether the café should have been given planning consent in the first place.
“Therefore, given levels of obesity amongst this cohort and the Scottish Government’s policy statements regarding the prevention of overweight and obesity and particularly the ‘Beyond the School Gate’ initiative it is clear that any further loosening of consent for these premises will have a significantly detrimental effect on the diets of a significant number of school children, thereby countering efforts by the school, parents and government (and presumably the community planning partnership) in tackling childhood obesity and the habit of fast-food consumption.”
It was in response to previous similar concerns expressed by the community council that permission for hot food offerings at the site was originally excluded.
The council’s environmental health officer does not object to the application but sets out requirements for the fitting of the extraction flue.
“Installation of a new kitchen extraction system has the potential to result in the release of cooking odours which may impact on neighbouring residents and businesses,” they say.
“Therefore, the extract system will be required to ensure that no loss of amenity to nearby residents is caused by odour or fumes.
“The system should be designed and installed by a competent person with specialist knowledge of ventilation and filtration systems.
“There may also be potential for noise disturbance to nearby properties arising from the operation of the new extraction system.”
Planners argue that the proposal for change of use is in line with the local development plan. While they acknowledge objections they say that the degree of separation between the business and nearby houses is sufficient “to provide for an appropriate degree of amenity within an urban setting between commercial and residential properties.”
And they add: “It is to be expected that with any commercial use, there will be an element of noise from customers entering and exiting premises and from deliveries.
“Notwithstanding this, if there are issues around excessive noise, then this would be assessed as a statutory noise complaint by Environmental Health. A condition has been included restricting delivery hours.”
In terms of the community council’s concerns about diet they say: “The planning system does not seek to control the lifestyle choice of individuals.”
And they conclude: “This application seeks to add the use of hot food takeaway to an existing business.
“In order to provide a degree of control over this additional element, it is considered appropriate to condition this to be ancillary to the principal Class 3 use of the premises, and can operate only at the same hours as the cafe.
“This effectively means that the premises cannot be developed solely as a hot food takeaway.
“It is not considered that the proposed change of use by adding hot food takeaway, will result in any significantly adverse impact on the character of the area, or on either individual or wider community residential amenity.”
Find out more about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.
