Stirling city centre restaurant Monterey Jacks has been awarded further approval to turn upper floors of its B-listed building into holiday lets.
The business has already been successful with a planning application for the building at 1 Corn Exchange Road and now council planners have approved the listed building application.
They want to make internal alterations on the ground, first and third floors plus turn offices on the second floor into five residential suites.
The chain has bought the building and 61 King Street and says their plans are aimed at meeting the needs of a post-pandemic city centre.
In their decision, council planners said: “No physical alteration is proposed to the external leaf of the building, and only internal alterations are proposed.
“The internal walls of the second floor are to be erected to facilitate the ensuites in the proposed rooms. It is considered that the proposed works are the minimal required to facilitate the alterations required, but that the walls should be constructed in a way to ensure that any interior features are intact and remain unaffected by the works.
“Furthermore, all works should terminate below ceiling level to ensure that cornicing remains visible. The removal of the existing doors throughout the building are not desirable, but it is considered that they are necessary to facilitate the required alterations. Details of how these doors to be removed and reused shall be submitted to the planning department so that they are retained within the building.
“Overall, the proposed alterations are considered to have a minimal impact on the historic fabric of the listed building, and is deemed to be accepted, subject to further details being submitted.”
In documents submitted with the applications, agents for the company said: “The works involve forming five suites with ensuite to complement the restaurant’s business already present.
“It is unlikely that the upper levels would be sustainable as offices as more people have converted to working at home and businesses generally have moved away from town centre locations due to parking restrictions and environmental concerns. This is evident and supported by the long-term vacancy of the building previously.
“The recent pandemic has also had an impact and will negatively effect towns and cities for years to come. Online shopping has altered how people shop and key to keeping life in our towns and cities is to have people visiting and living in them and utilising the tourist attractions, bars, restaurants and cafés that exist in the city in abundance. Stirling is a unique city and attracts a significant number of tourists and supporting businesses that contribute to jobs and the local economy will be paramount for life and vibrance of all towns and cities in Scotland.
“Access is a major consideration and given this is a B listed building it would not seem appropriate to install any disabled access to reach upper levels. The vertical access is stepped and does not lend itself to one continuous vertical access and therefore is not practical or desirable in a listed building of this quality. The entrance access stair from Corn Exchange Street is high quality feature.”
