Controversial plans to transform a former public toilet building in Aberdeen into a cafe have been rejected by the council’s planning committee.
Members met yesterday to decide whether to grant Harry Miller’s application for the facility on the High Street in Old Aberdeen.
Under the proposals, the side and rear walls would have been demolished and a first-floor extension put in place in the building, which was first opened in 1932.
The scheme was far from universally welcomed in the community, with the Old Aberdeen community council, Aberdeen Civic Society and the Old Aberdeen Heritage Society all raising objections.
A letter from the community council to the committee stated that, while the group was happy with the proposal to convert the “eyesore” into a cafe, they had concerns over the “visual presentation” of the redeveloped structure so close to listed buildings.
However, despite these objections, council officers still recommended approval of the development, with a number of conditions attached.
But, following yesterday’s debate, councillors voted 8-7 to send the designs back to the drawing board.
Committee member Marie Boulton said: “The committee agreed that the concept was a good one, but there were concerns about some of the building materials that were being used in what is a conservation area.
“We have gone back to the planners to ask them to reconsider their application.”