Gillies of Broughty Ferry Ltd has applied to Highland Council for planning permission to build a two-storey new extension at its Inverness furniture store
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Plans have been submitted to build a two-storey extension to an Inverness furniture store.
Gillies of Broughty Ferry Ltd has submitted an application for planning permission to build the new structure in Chapel Street.
If approved the number of parking spaces at the outlet would be reduced from 49 to 17 and the total area of floorspace for the proposed extension would cover 1395 sq m with 960 sq m used for trading.
According to a design statement issued with the application the long-established business requires “significant additional” showroom and sales space.
The extension would be at the back of the existing building.
A feasibility study was submitted to Highland Council last year and, according to the design statement, the plan generally conforms to council planning policy because it “enhances and supports the vitality and viability of the city centre”.
The statement added: “It is sited within the Inverness city centre conservation area and its design, placing and relationship to the existing building and adjoining buildings, particularly the adjoining church to the rear, will require to be addressed in the submitted design. The development is to be constructed within the large rear service yard and car park for the existing store.”
The extension would have an articulated pitched roof entrance from the customer car park with the materials to be used in the construction including seam steel cladding with expressed projecting window surrounds and high levels of glazing to the entrance feature.
The report stated: “The overall aesthetic approach being to clearly express a contemporary addition to the site but minimise overlooking or overpowering adjoining properties and provide architectural quality in what is albeit a back-lands and somewhat concealed site.”
It added: “Notwithstanding the low visibility site, the applicant wishes to create a building of quality and contemporary appeal. The development acknowledges the adjoining properties, and the design has been developed to avoid overlooking and minimise height and mass so as to avoid any significant loss of utility to adjoining developments.”
