Plans to transform a former amusement arcade in Paisley town centre into a café have been approved by Renfrewshire Council. At3am Leisure has been granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the venture in Causeyside Street.
What the café will offer
The decision will facilitate the creation of a coffee shop, serving items such as drinks, pastries, sandwiches, paninis and other light food.
A statement submitted with the application provided detail on the premises' cooking operations and extraction requirements. It explained: "Any heating or preparation of food will be limited to low-impact appliances such as a microwave, enclosed oven and/or panini/sandwich press."
The statement added: "The food offering and preparation methods have specifically been designed so that a commercial kitchen extraction system and external extraction flue should not be required. There will be no frying or similar cooking process that would generate the level of grease-laden fumes, smoke or odours normally associated with a commercial hot food kitchen. General ventilation within the premises will be provided as appropriate for the café operation."
Council's assessment
The property is found on the west side of Causeyside Street, where there are a mix of commercial, residential and office properties. In its report of handling, the council said: "Other uses in the vicinity of the application site comprise largely of typical town centre uses and include retail, offices, hot food takeaways and residential. It is considered that the proposed use is complementary and compatible with these other town centre uses and with the main hierarchy and role of Paisley town centre."
The local authority does not believe the level of noise generated will have a "significant detrimental impact" on residential amenity in the area. It added: "Given the limited nature of the proposed food preparation activities, it is not considered necessary or reasonable to impose a condition requiring a ventilation system. Instead, a condition should be attached restricting the operation of the premises to the cooking processes and extraction arrangements set out in the submitted cooking operations and extraction requirements statement."
Decision issued
In its official decision notice, issued last week, the council confirmed the proposal was in line with the provisions of the development plan.
