Is eyesore paint job's days finally numbered? Sign workers move in on Inverness city centre business

A long-running planning saga which left a prominent Inverness city centre building looking like a colourful eyesore with flaking paint finally appears to be drawing to a close.

For the former So Coco café site on the corner of Church Street and High Street – which has run as a Scottish souvenir and tartan shop under the name House of Highlands for several years – is at last getting a facelift.

The popular café, which closed in early 2019, had sported a pale green paint job, but when Inverness Retail Ltd took over the site under the trading name House of Highlands it initially tried to repaint the exterior in a bright pink colour.

Highland Council's planning officers swiftly stepped in however, issuing an enforcement notice ordering the painting work to cease because listed building consent to alter the exterior had not been sought or granted.

The business eventually secured planning permission in September 2020 for a dark blue and dark red paint job with gold detailing and stags head logos that were deemed more appropriate for the B-listed building – especially given its position directly opposite the Town House.

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By 2021 some dark blue paintwork was carried out on parts of the building, but much was left untouched – and it has continued to sport a mix of blue, red, white and So Coco's original pale green ever since.

The patchwork of multiple colours also began to noticeably deteriorate in places – with flaking paint becoming particularly noticeable where the So Coco panel signage used to be located above the windows.

However, this eyesore's days finally appear to be numbered after sign contractors were spotted installing dark blue panelling and signage on the exterior of the building – suggesting that the 2020 planning permission is at last being carried out in full.

UPDATE (2.50pm): And the planning permission was indeed finally carried out in full, with workers finishing erecting the signs this afternoon.

The completed signs and paint match the planning permission for dark blue and dark red colours, with gold/yellow detailing and stags heads.

– What do you think? Are you pleased the shop's exterior has finally been spruced up? Let us know at newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk

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